Communicating between devices in a doorbell system using AC power waveforms

ABSTRACT

This disclosure describes techniques for using alternating current (AC) power waveforms to communicate between devices in a doorbell circuit. A signaling device that emits sound may be positioned in the doorbell circuit between an AC power source and a doorbell device (such as an A/V device including a doorbell). A signaling device may be coupled in parallel to a signaling-control device that includes electronic circuitry that provides a selective bypass to allow for larger amounts of current drawn by the A/V device to bypass the signaling device without causing the signaling device to emit the sound. The A/V device and the signaling-control device may use AC power waveforms to communicate data and/or data between each other. For example, the A/V device and the signaling-control device may control respective signal relays to selectively open and close the doorbell circuit in order to communicate with each other using the AC current waveform.

BACKGROUND

Traditional doorbell systems for houses have a signaling device thatemits the doorbell sound (e.g., “ding-dong”) when the doorbell button ispressed. The signaling device is typically connected in series in adoorbell circuit with the doorbell device, which has a button and aswitch. In such a traditional doorbell circuit, the switch is normallyopen such that the doorbell circuit is an open circuit. When the buttonon the doorbell device is pressed, the button may cause the switch toclose the doorbell circuit and allow for power to flow through thesignaling device to cause the signaling device to emit the doorbellsound. However, various technological advances have been made to thesetraditional doorbell systems.

For example, home security is a concern for many homeowners and renters.Those seeking to protect or monitor their homes often wish to have videoand audio communications with visitors, for example, those visiting anexternal door or entryway. Audio and video (A/V) recording andcommunication devices, such as A/V doorbells, provide thisfunctionality, and can also aid in crime detection and prevention. Forexample, audio and/or video captured by an A/V recording andcommunication device (often referred to herein as “A/V devices”) can beuploaded to the cloud and recorded on a remote server. Subsequent reviewof the A/V footage can aid law enforcement in capturing perpetrators ofhome burglaries and other crimes. Further, the presence of one or moreA/V devices on the exterior of a home, such as a doorbell unit at theentrance to the home, acts as a powerful deterrent against would-beburglars. In some examples, users of these A/V devices may receivenotifications at their personal, client devices that notify them whentheir A/V devices detect motion at their homes. Users may further usetheir client devices to have video and audio communications to interactwith their visitors, and also to deter would-be burglars via their A/Vdevices.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The various embodiments of the present communicating between devices ina doorbell system using AC power waveforms now will be discussed indetail with an emphasis on highlighting the advantageous features. Theseembodiments depict the novel and non-obvious communicating betweendevices in a doorbell system using AC power waveforms, as shown in theaccompanying drawings, which are for illustrative purposes only. Thesedrawings include the following figures, in which like numerals indicatelike parts:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example environment thatincludes a doorbell system for powering a doorbell device of a monitoredlocation according to various aspects of the present disclosure;

FIGS. 2A-2F are schematic diagrams represent example AC currentwaveforms that have been modulated by an A/V device and/or asignaling-control device in order to communicate data, such as deviceIDs and/or instructions, between the two devices, according to variousaspects of the present disclosure;

FIGS. 3A-3D are schematic flow diagrams illustrating a process for anA/V recording and communication device to control the flow of AC currentin order to instruct a signaling-control device to either close a shuntto cause the AC current to bypass a signaling device, or open the shuntto cause the AC current to flow through a signaling device to cause thesignaling device to emit sound, according to various aspects of thepresent disclosure;

FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram illustrating a system forcommunicating in a network according to various aspects of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram illustrating an A/V recording andcommunication device according to various aspects of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram illustrating one example embodimentof an A/V recording and communication device according to variousaspects of the present disclosure;

FIG. 7 is a functional block diagram illustrating one example embodimentof a signaling-control device according to various aspects of thepresent disclosure;

FIGS. 8-11 are flowcharts illustrating example processes forcommunicating between devices in a doorbell system by modulating phaseportions of an AC current waveform according to various aspects of thepresent disclosure;

FIGS. 12-15 are flowcharts illustrating example processes for devices ina doorbell system signaling to each other using open-circuit statesand/or closed-circuit states to control the entire flow of AC current inthe circuit according to various aspects of the present disclosure;

FIG. 16 is a signal diagram of a process for streaming and/or storingA/V content from an A/V recording and communication device according tovarious aspects of the present disclosure;

FIG. 17 is a signal diagram of a process for initiating avideo-on-demand session for A/V content from an A/V recording andcommunication device according to various aspects of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 18 is a functional block diagram of a client device on which thepresent embodiments may be implemented according to various aspects ofthe present disclosure; and

FIG. 19 is a functional block diagram of a general-purpose computingsystem on which the present embodiments may be implemented according tovarious aspects of present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Although doorbell systems that include A/V devices are helpful for atleast the reasons described above, various problems may exist whenattempting to integrate these A/V devices into previously-installed,traditional doorbell systems. For example, A/V devices that areimplemented as doorbells may draw large enough amounts of currentthrough the doorbell circuit to inadvertently cause the signaling deviceto emit the doorbell sound. Additionally, traditional doorbell systemsdo not provide electronics or communication avenues that allow signalingdevices and doorbell devices to communicate data with each other. Thepresent embodiments solve these problems, as described below.

The present disclosure describes techniques for using alternatingcurrent (AC) power waveforms to communicate between devices in adoorbell circuit. In the doorbell circuit, a signaling device (such as abell or a buzzer) that emits sound may be positioned between an AC powersource and a doorbell device (such as an A/V device including adoorbell). In some examples, the A/V device may include a button toperform functions of a traditional doorbell, but may also include aprocessor and other components that allow for other functionality thattraditional doorbell devices were not able to perform, such as audioand/or video recording, communication of audio and/or video data, etc.Further, traditional signaling devices may be coupled in parallel tosignaling-control devices that include electronic circuitry that providea selective bypass (e.g., a shunt switch) to allow for larger amounts ofcurrent drawn by the A/V device to bypass the signaling device withoutcausing the signaling device to emit the sound. According to thetechniques described herein, the A/V device and the signaling-controldevice may use AC power waveforms to communicate instructions and/ordata between each other using the doorbell circuit. For example, the A/Vdevice and the signaling-control device may include respectiveprocessors and logic to control respective signal relays (or otherelectronic switches) in order to selectively open and close the doorbellcircuit in order to communicate with each other using the AC currentwaveform of the AC power signal.

In some examples, the A/V device and signaling-control device mayselectively open and close the doorbell circuit in order to modulate aphase of the AC current waveform, or a sequence of phases of the ACcurrent waveform, to communicate with each other. For example, the A/Vdevice may modulate one or more phases of the AC current waveform toindicate that a user provided input at the doorbell button. Thesignaling-control device may detect, such as by using a current-senseresistor, the modulation of the phase(s) of the AC current waveform anddetermine that the A/V device is instructing the signaling-controldevice to cause the signaling device to emit the sound. Thesignaling-control device may then remove the bypass, or open the shuntswitch, to allow the AC current to flow through the signaling device toemit the sound. The A/V device may then subsequently modulate one ormore phases of the AC waveform to instruct the signaling-control deviceto stop the signaling device from emitting the sound by closing theshunt switch such that the AC current bypasses the signaling device.

In some examples, other types of communications may be performed by theA/V device and the signaling-control device. For example, the A/V devicemay modulate one or more phases of the AC waveform according to apredefined sequence that represents a request for the signaling-controldevice to provide certain information to the A/V device, such as adevice identifier (ID) for the signaling-control device. Thesignaling-control device may identify the request for the device ID fromthe A/V device, and in turn use a signal relay to modulate one or morephases of the AC current waveform according to a sequence thatrepresents the device ID of the signaling-control device for the A/Vdevice to detect. In various examples, the A/V device and/or thesignaling-control device may modulate positive phases, or negativephases, to indicate a binary bit of “0,” and allow current to flow forpositive phases, or negative phases, to indicate a binary bit of “1.”Accordingly, the devices may communicate binary bits using modulationsof phases of an AC power signal, such as the AC current waveform, toprovide information in various forms, such as single-bit instructions,multi-bit instructions, hexadecimal values, and so forth.

In some examples, the A/V device and/or the signaling-control device maymodulate substantially all of a positive phase (e.g., the positive 180degrees), or a negative phase (e.g., the negative 180 degrees) of the ACcurrent waveform to indicate a “1” bit or a “0” bit. Depending on thelogic in the A/V device and the signaling-control device, a modulationof a phase may indicate a “1,” or a “0,” in various examples. However,in some examples the A/V device and/or the signaling device may modulatethe AC current waveform in smaller increments to indicate bits and tocommunicate data more efficiently or quickly. For example, the A/Vdevice and/or the signaling-control device may modulate the first halfof a positive phase (e.g., the initial 90 degrees of the positivephase), and allow the second half of the positive phase (e.g., thesubsequent 90 degrees of the positive phase) of a period of an ACcurrent waveform to indicate two bits within 180 degrees of the positivephase.

In some examples, the A/V device and/or the signaling-control device mayallow for portions of the AC current waveform to pass through to ensurethat a sufficient amount of power is provided to the devices withoutmodulation. For example, half of each period of the AC current waveformmay be designated as a “power bit” where the phase is not modulated toensure that sufficient current is provided to one or both of the devicesto power components of the devices. In this way, communications betweenthe A/V device and the signaling-control device may be performed usingthe AC power signal in the doorbell circuit while still providingsufficient power for normal operation of the A/V device and/or thesignaling-control device.

In further examples, the A/V device may control the flow of the AC powersuch that substantially all of the available power that the A/V deviceis rated to use may be provided to the A/V device without causing thesignaling device to emit the sound. In traditional doorbell circuits,when more sophisticated doorbell devices (such as A/V doorbell devices)draw AC power to implement various functionality (e.g., powering amicrophone, powering a camera, performing wireless communications,etc.), the amount of power drawn through the doorbell circuit may behigh enough to inadvertently cause the signaling device to emit sound.Thus, sophisticated doorbell devices may be unable to perform some orall of their functions without inadvertently causing the signalingdevice to output sound. According to the techniques described herein,the signaling-control device may include a shunt switch that isconnected in parallel with the signaling device, and the shunt switchmay have a much lower impedance than the signaling device to ensure thatAC power flows around, or bypasses, the signaling device while the A/Vdevice is operating. While this technique allows the A/V device tooperate without inadvertently causing the signaling device to emitsound, the A/V device may desire to communicate a request to thesignaling-control device to remove the bypass and cause the signalingdevice to emit the sound, such as when a doorbell is pressed at the A/Vdevice.

According to various examples described herein, the A/V device maycontrol the flow of AC current in order to instruct thesignaling-control device to either close the shunt switch to cause theAC power to bypass the signaling device, or open the shunt switch tocause the AC power to flow through the signaling device and cause thesignaling device to emit sound. More specifically, the A/V device mayuse one or more signal relays to open the doorbell circuit, and/or closethe doorbell circuit, to instruct the signaling-control device toactivate and/or de-active the signaling device. In normal operation, oran “idle state,” the signaling-control device may cause the AC power tobypass the signaling device and flow to the A/V device for use bycomponents of the A/V device, such as the processor, microphone, camera,wireless communication component, etc. However, the A/V device mayreceive an instruction to cause the signaling device to emit sound, suchas input received at a doorbell of the A/V device. In such examples, theA/V device may open a signal relay that is connected in series betweenthe signaling-control device and the A/V device such that the doorbellcircuit is in an open-circuit state where the AC current is no longerable to flow. The signaling-control device may detect the open-circuitstate, such as by using a current-sense resistor and/or a voltage sense,and be configured to perform various operations based on detecting theopen-circuit state. For instance, the signaling-control device may beconfigured to determine that the open-circuit state indicates a requestfrom the A/V device to have the signaling device emit sound. Thus, thesignaling-control device may remove the bypass around the signalingdevice, such as by opening a shunt switch, and allowing the AC currentto flow through the signaling device.

Once the A/V device has created the open-circuit state for a sufficientperiod of time for the signaling-control device to detect theopen-circuit state, the A/V device may create a closed-circuit state forthe doorbell circuit by closing one or more signal relays. For example,the A/V device may cause the signal relay to close that is connected inseries with the signaling device, and may further cause a signal relayto close that is connected in parallel with a power load of the A/Vdevice. In this way, the power load of the A/V device may be bypassed bythe parallel signal relay, thereby creating a shunt around the A/Vdevice power load. In this way, the A/V device may close at least twosignal relays in order to create a closed-circuit state such thatcurrent flowing through the doorbell circuit bypasses the A/V device. Inthis way, all of the current flowing through the doorbell circuit isdrawn by the signaling device in order to cause the signaling device toemit sound.

After a predetermined period of time, or until input is no longerreceived at the doorbell button, the A/V device may signal to thesignaling-control device to stop causing the signaling device to sound.For example, the A/V device may open at least the signal relay that isconnected in series with the signaling-control device and the A/V devicein order to create the open-circuit state for a period of time. Thesignaling-control device may detect, using at least one of acurrent-sense resistor or a voltage sense, the open-circuit statecreated by the A/V device. Responsive to detecting the open-circuitstate, the signaling-control device may close the shunt switch in orderto create a bypass around the signaling device. After the predeterminedperiod of time, the A/V device may close the signal relay positionedbetween the signaling-control device and the A/V device, and open thesignal relay that is connected in parallel with the power load of theA/V device (if not already opened) to place the A/V device back in thenormal operating state. Stated otherwise, the A/V device may use thesignal relays such that the AC current bypasses the signaling device andflows through the power load of the AC device. In this way, the A/Vdevice may selectively control the flow of AC current through thedoorbell circuit to communicate with the signaling-control device. Insuch examples, the A/V device may be able to draw the full rated amountof power for operating various components of the A/V device, and also beable to provide the full amount of power to the signaling device to emitsound. Further, the A/V device may communicate with thesignaling-control device in order to ensure that the signaling device isnot inadvertently activated when the A/V device draws AC current throughthe doorbell circuit.

In some examples, the signaling-control device may be configured to stopthe signaling device from emitting sound after a predetermined period oftime. For example, the signaling-control device may determine that theA/V device has instructed the signaling-control device to cause thesignaling device to emit sound. However, the signaling-control devicemay not need further instructions from the A/V device. For instance, thesignaling-control device may identify an instruction from the A/V deviceto cause the signaling device to emit sound, and cause AC current toflow through the signaling device to emit the sound. Thesignaling-control device may detect or determine an end of a predefinedperiod of time (e.g., 5 seconds, 10 seconds, etc.), and cause the A/Ccurrent to bypass the signaling device to stop emitting the sound. Inthis way, the signaling-control device does not always receive furtherinstruction from the A/V device indicating when to stop emitting soundusing the signaling device.

While the techniques described herein are with reference to detectingmodulation in AC current waveforms, the techniques are equallyapplicable for detecting changes/modulations in AC voltage waveforms.Additionally, any type of electrical switches, mechanical switches,and/or electromechanical switches may be used to perform the techniquesdescribed herein.

The following detailed description describes the present embodimentswith reference to the drawings. In the drawings, reference numbers labelelements of the present embodiments. These reference numbers arereproduced below in connection with the discussion of the correspondingdrawing features.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example environment 100that includes a doorbell system 102 for powering a doorbell device of amonitored location 104. In some examples, the doorbell device may be anaudio and video (A/V) recording and communication device 106 (alsoreferred to herein as A/V device 106) that monitors a field of view(FOV) 108 in front of the monitored location, where the field of view108 includes a user 110 that is approaching the A/V device 106.

As illustrated, the monitored location 104 may include a structure(e.g., a house) that is being monitored by the A/V device 106 accordingto the FOV 108 of the A/V device 106. The A/V device 106 may monitor thephysical environment in the FOV 108 for various reasons, includingsecurity reasons to identify or otherwise view people within a thresholdproximity to the monitored location 104. In some examples, the A/Vdevice 106 may be positioned at a location on a home similar totraditional doorbell devices, and may include a doorbell button toreceive input for causing a doorbell signaling device to emit sound. TheA/V device 106 may include one or more motion sensors that are at leastperiodically powered on to detect motion within the FOV 108 of the A/Vdevice 106 (e.g., passive infrared (PIR) motion sensors, active infrared(AIR) motion sensors, etc.). In some examples, based on detecting motionwithin the FOV 108 of the A/V device 104, the A/V device 104 mayactivate (e.g., turn on, provide power to, etc.) a camera to begingenerating image data. In further examples, based on detecting motionwithin a motion zone located within the FOV 108 of the A/V device 104,the A/V device 104 may begin generating the image data using the camera,and begin transmitting the image data over one or more networks (e.g.,WANs, PANs, LANs, MANs, or any other network and/or combination thereof)and to one or more network devices.

In some examples, the image data may always be generated and may alwaysbe transmitted to the network device(s) (e.g., 24/7 video recording).However, in some examples the A/V device 106 may initially send amotion-based notification to the network device(s), which is in turnrelayed to a client device registered for a user that is associated withthe A/V device 106. Once the client device has received the notification(e.g., a push notification) indicating that the A/V device 106 hasdetected motion, the user may provide input using their client devicethat indicates they would like to view what is happening in the physicalenvironment. In such examples, the A/V device 106 may be instructed bythe network device(s) to start generating the image data andtransmitting the image data to the network devices, which in turn mayrelay the image data to the client device.

Additionally, the A/V device 106 may include a microphone to generateaudio data (such as speech of the user 110), and may further include aspeaker to output audio data (such as speech from a remote useroperating the client device). In this way, the A/V device 106 mayperform various operations for monitoring the monitored location 104,such as using a motion sensor to detect movement, using a camera tocapture image data representing the FOV 108, using a microphone togenerate audio data, using a loudspeaker to output audio data, and/orstreaming image data and/or audio data over network(s) to backendservers and/or client devices.

Additionally, the A/V device 106 may include a button that may receiveinput (e.g., capacitive-touch input, press input, near-touch input,etc.) to cause a doorbell signaling device to emit a sound. Thus, notonly may the A/V device 106 include a doorbell button to receive inputto cause a signaling device to emit a sound, similar to a traditionaldoorbell device, but the A/V device may perform the additionalfunctionality described above. In light of these types of functions, theA/V device 106 may draw additional AC power, and/or additional ACcurrent, compared to traditional doorbell devices.

As shown in FIG. 1, the doorbell system 102 may include the A/V device106 that is installed or positioned on a doorbell circuit 112, andfurther include a signaling device 114 installed or positioned in thedoorbell circuit 112 between the A/V device 106 and an AC power source116. The signaling device 114 may be mechanical or electronic, invarious embodiments. A mechanical signaling device creates its sound byusing physical bells or bars and a mechanical hammer, and makes atraditional “ding-dong” sound. An electronic signaling device playspre-recorded digital tones through an electronic speaker.

The AC power source may include a step-down transformer that may stepdown an AC voltage to an operating voltage for the signaling device 114and/or the A/V device 106, such as a step-down from 120 volts AC to anoperating voltage of 8-24 volts AC. The A/V device 106 and/or thesignaling device 114 may draw AC power, and thus AC current, from the ACpower source 116 to power various loads. For example, the signalingdevice 114 may draw AC power to signaling device 114 emit a sound uponreceiving a large enough amount of AC power from the AC power source116. Similarly, the A/V device 106 may draw AC power from the AC powersource 116 to power various components, such as a wireless communicationcomponent, a camera, a microphone, a loudspeaker, etc.

It would be disadvantageous for the A/V device 106 to draw an amount ofpower from the AC power source 116 that is above the threshold necessaryfor causing the signaling device 114 to sound at any time other thanwhen the doorbell button is pressed, because any inadvertent sounding ofthe signaling device 114 would not only be bothersome to the home'soccupant(s), but would also undermine the usefulness of the doorbell. Toprevent inadvertent sounding of the signaling device 114, asignaling-control device 120 may be coupled to the signaling device 114to, among other functions, provide a bypass for the AC power to flowaround the signaling device 114 when drawn by the A/V device 106.

The signaling-control device 120 may include a shunt 122 that isconnected in parallel with the signaling device 114. The shunt 122 mayfacilitate the ability of the A/V device 106 to draw power from the ACpower source 116 without inadvertently triggering the signaling device114 to sound. The shunt 122, during normal standby operation, presents arelatively low electrical impedance, such as a few ohms, across theterminals of the signaling device 114. Most of the current drawn by theA/V device 106, therefore, flows through the shunt 122, and not throughthe signaling device 114. The shunt 122 and/or signaling-control device120 may contain electronic circuitry that switches the shunt 122 betweena state of low impedance, such as a few ohms, for example, and a stateof high impedance, such as >1K ohms, for example. Thus, when the shunt122 is closed, the AC current drawn by the A/V device may flow throughthe shunt 122, and when the shunt 122 is open, the AC current drawnthrough the doorbell circuit 112 may flow through the signaling device114.

In various examples, the A/V device 106 may include, or control, an A/Vseries signal relay 124 that is connected in series between thesignaling device 114 and the A/V device 106. In this way, when the A/Vseries signal relay 124 is open, the doorbell circuit 112 may be in anopen-circuit state such that AC current is not able to flow through thedoorbell circuit 112. The A/V device may include A/V control logic 126configured to selectively open or close the A/V series signal relay 124based on instructions received or determined at the A/V device 106. Forexample, the A/V device 106 may selectively open and close the A/Vseries signal relay 124 in order to modulate a phase of the AC currentwaveform, or a sequence of phases of the AC current waveform, tocommunicate with the signaling-control device 120.

As a specific example, the A/V control logic 126 may determine that theuser 110 provided input at the doorbell button of the A/V device 106. Insuch examples, the A/V device 106 may selectively open the A/V seriessignal relay 124 to modulate one or more phases of the AC currentwaveform to indicate to the signaling-control device 120 that thedoorbell button was pressed, and instruct the signaling-control device120 to cause the signaling device 114 to emit sound. Thesignaling-control device 120 may detect, such as by using acurrent-sense resistor 128 and signaling device-current detect logic130, the modulation of the phase(s) of the AC current waveform anddetermine that the A/V device 106 is instructing the signaling-controldevice 120 to cause the signaling device 114 to emit the sound. Thesignaling-control device 120 may then remove the bypass, or open theshunt 122, to allow the AC current to flow through the signaling device114 to cause the signaling device 114 to emit the sound. The A/V device106 may then subsequently modulate one or more phases of the AC waveformto instruct the signaling-control device 120 to stop the signalingdevice 114 from emitting the sound by closing the shunt 122 such thatthe AC current bypasses the signaling device 114.

In some examples, other types of communications may be performed by theA/V device 106. For example, the A/V device 106 may open and close theA/V series signal relay 124 to modulate one or more phases of the ACwaveform according to a predefined sequence that represents a requestfor the signaling-control device 120 to provide certain information tothe A/V device 106, such as a device identifier (ID) for thesignaling-control device 120 and/or the signaling device 114. Thesignaling-control device 120 may identify the request for the device IDfrom the A/V device 106. For example, the signaling device-currentdetect logic 130 may detect, using the signaling device current-senseresistor 128, which phases of the AC current waveform are modulated bythe opening of the A/V series signal relay 124, and determineinformation based on the modulation. In some examples, the A/V device106 may open and close the A/V series signal relay 124 in order tomodulate positive phases, or negative phases, to indicate a binary bitof “0,” and allow current to flow for positive phases, or negativephases, to indicate a binary bit of “1.” Accordingly, the A/V device 106may communicate binary bits using modulations of phases of an AC powersignal, such as the AC current waveform, to provide information invarious forms, such as single-bit instructions, multi-bit instructions,hexadecimal values, etc.

In some examples, the A/V device 106 may modulate substantially all of apositive phase (e.g., the positive 180 degrees), or a negative phase(e.g., the negative 180 degrees) of the AC current waveform to indicatea “1” bit or a “0” bit. Depending on the logic in the A/V device 106 andthe signaling-control device 120, a modulation of a phase may indicate a“1,” or a “0,” in various examples. However, in some examples the A/Vdevice 106 and/or the signaling device 120 may modulate the AC currentwaveform in smaller increments to indicate bits and to communicate datamore efficiently or quickly. For example, the A/V device 106 and/or thesignaling-control device 120 may modulate the first half of a positivephase (e.g., the initial 90 degrees of the positive phase), and allowthe second half of the positive phase (e.g., the subsequent 90 degreesof the positive phase) of a period of an AC current waveform to indicatetwo bits within 180 degrees of the positive phase.

The signaling-control device 120 may identify one or more modulations ofthe AC current waveform caused by the opening and closing of the A/Vseries signal relay 124. The signaling device-current detect 130 maywrite those modulations to memory in the form of binary bits, such as bywriting a “1” to memory to indicate a non-modulated phase portion of theAC current waveform, and writing a “0” to memory to indicate a modulatedphase portion of the AC current waveform. The signaling-control device120 may then determine various commands or instructions based on the oneor more bits, or the specific sequence of bits. For example, theinstructions may be an instruction to open the shunt 122 to cause thesignaling device 1114 to receive current and cause the signaling device114 to output the sound. The instruction indicated by the bit orsequence of bits may comprise an instruction to communicate various databack to the A/V device 106, such as an instruction to indicate a deviceID of the signaling-control device 120 and/or the signaling device 114.

Thus, in some examples the signaling-control device 120 may beconfigured to modulate phases of the AC current waveform that areflowing through the doorbell circuit 112. For instance, thesignaling-control device 120 may also include, or control, a signalingdevice signal relay 132 configured to be selectively opened and closed.The signaling-control device 120 may include signaling-control logic134, which causes the signaling device signal relay 132 to selectivelyopen or close to modulate phases of the AC current waveform in order tocommunicate data back to the A/V device 106. For example, thesignaling-control logic 134 may determine a signal to use to cause thesignaling device signal relay 132 to open and close to modulate one ormore phase of the AC current waveform to provide a representation of adevice ID for the signaling-control device 120, such as a sequence ofbits indicating a hexadecimal representation of the device ID. Todetermine the data being communicated by the signaling-control device120 using the phase of the AC current waveform, the A/V device 106 mayalso include an A/V current-sense resistor 136 and associated A/Vcurrent detect logic 138. The A/V current detect logic 138 may identifybits represented by the modulated phase(s) of the AC current waveform inorder to determine information or data being communicated. The A/Vcurrent detect logic 138 may similarly write the bits to memory, andtake one or more actions based on the data received, such as storing anindication of the device identifier for the signaling-control device120. As illustrated, the A/V current-sense resistor 136 may be disposedbetween two terminals of the A/V device 106. Thus, the A/V device 106may include two terminals that are connectable in series with thesignaling-control device 120 in the doorbell circuit 112.

In some examples, the A/V device 106 and/or the signaling-control device120 may allow for portions of the AC current waveform to pass through toensure that a sufficient amount of power is provided to the deviceswithout modulation. For example, half of each period of the AC currentwaveform may be designated as a “power bit” where the phase is notmodulated to ensure that sufficient current is provided to one or bothof the devices to power components of the devices. In this way,communications between the A/V device 106 and the signaling-controldevice 120 may be performed using the AC power signal in the doorbellcircuit 112 while still providing sufficient power for normal operationof the A/V device 106 and/or signaling-control device 120.

Accordingly, the signaling-control device 120 and the A/V device 106 maycommunicate information with each other by modulating phase portions ofan AC current waveform, as described in more detail in FIGS. 2A-2F.

Generally, the signaling device signal relay 132, the A/V series signalrelay 124, and/or the shunt 122 may comprise, or include, any type ofelectrical-based switch, mechanical-based switch, and/orelectromechanical-based switch. For instance, one or all of thesignaling device signal relay 132, the A/V series signal relay 124,and/or the shunt 122 may include, and/or be driven by, a triac (Triodefor Alternating Current) device, a transistor device (e.g., a BJT(Bipolar Junction Transistor), a MOSFET (Metal-Oxide SemiconductorField-Effect Transistor), etc.), and/or any other type of switchingmechanism or device. Additionally, the signaling device current-senseresistor 128 and/or the A/V current-sense resistor 136 may comprise, forexample, a shunt resistor configured to detect a voltage drop that isproportional to the current going through the resistor. Thus, thesignaling device-current detect logic 130 and the A/V current detectlogic 138 may detect drops in voltage across the signaling devicecurrent-sense resistor 128 and the A/V current-sense resistor 136,respectively, and based on the impedance of the resistor, determine ordetect changes in the AC current waveform, such as modulations.

FIGS. 2A-2F represent example AC current waveforms that have beenmodulated by the A/V device 106 and/or the signaling-control device 120in order to communicate data, such as device IDs and/or instructions,between the two devices.

FIG. 2A illustrates an example AC current waveform 200 that is drawnthrough the doorbell circuit 112 by at least one of the A/V device 106,the signaling-control device 120, and/or the signaling device 114. Insome examples, the A/V device 106 and the signaling-control device 120may be configured to analyze AC current waveforms 200 according to theindicated phase designations 202. For example, the A/V device 106 andthe signaling-control device 120 may be configured to detect a startbit, which may comprise a modulation of a negative phase of a period ofthe AC current waveform 200, such as approximately 180 degrees of aperiod of the waveform 200. The “start” bit may indicate to the A/Vdevice 106 and/or the signaling-control device 120 that subsequentmodulations of the AC current waveform 200 indicate information or databeing communicated. Subsequent to the “start” bit may be one or morephases that are designated for supplying power to the devices followedby phase designations 202 for bits to be communicated by the A/V device106 and/or the signaling-control device 120.

For example, for eight consecutive periods of the AC current waveform200, the positive phase portions of each segment may be designated inthe phase designations 202 as being bits that indicate a “1” or a “0”depending on whether the A/V device 106 and/or the signaling-controldevice 120 modulate the phase. Thus, the positive phase portions, suchas roughly 180 degrees of the wave period or wave cycle, may bedesignated as bits to convey data, and the negative phase portions, suchas roughly 180 degrees of the wave period, may be designated as power toensure that the A/V device 106 and/or the signaling-control device 120receive sufficient power to operate. The A/V device 106 and/or thesignaling-control device 120 may be configured to detect the “start”bit, and identify whether the positive phase portions designated in thephase designations 202 are modulated or not. The A/V device 106 and/orthe signaling-control device 120 may write “1s” or “0s” to memory basedon detecting a modulation, or a lack of modulation, for each of the bits1-8. In this way, the A/V device 106 and/or the signaling-control device120 may communicate information by modulating phases of an AC currentwaveform 200, and be configured to understand which phases following a“start” bit indicate a “1” or a “0.”

FIG. 2B illustrates an example AC current waveform 204 that is modulatedby the A/V device 106 in order to instruct the signaling-control device120 to cause the signaling device 114 to output sound. As shown, the ACcurrent waveform 204 may begin the communication with a designed “start”bit, which may comprise a modulation of a positive phase portion of awave period. Following the start bit, the next positive phase portionmay indicate a “1,” which is ready by the signaling-control device 120and indicates a command to active the signaling device. Thus, when thesignaling-control device detects a modulation of a positive phaseportion, or the “start” bit, in a wave cycle, and detects anon-modulation (or a “1”) of the following wave cycle's positive phase,the signaling-control device 120 may determine that the A/V device 106is instructing the signaling-control device 120 to open the shunt 122such that the AC current waveform flows through the signaling device 114to cause the signaling device 114 to output sound.

After a pre-determined period of time, or when the user stops providinginput to the doorbell button at the A/V device 106, the A/V device maymodulate another positive phase of a waveform cycle of the AC currentwaveform 204 to indicate the “start” of another communication, and mayfurther modulate the positive phase of the following waveform cycle.This “0” bit that follows the “start” bit may indicate a command fromthe A/V device 106 to deactivate the signaling device 114. Thesignaling-control device 120 may detect the start bit followed by the“0” bit and cause the shunt 122 to close, thereby resulting in the ACcurrent waveform 204 to bypass the signaling device 114 and flow to theA/V device 106. The modulations are merely exemplary, and any type ofmodulation scheme may be used to indicate requests to start and/or stopcausing the signaling device 114 to output sound.

FIG. 2C illustrates another example AC current waveform 206 along withexample phase designations 208. In this scenario, the A/V device 106 maycommunicate an instruction using the AC current waveform 206 to thesignaling-control device 120. For example, the A/V device 106 mayselectively modulate the AC current waveform 206 to indicate a requestfor the device ID from the signaling-control device 120. As illustrated,the A/V device 106 may modulate a negative phase portion of the ACcurrent waveform 206 to indicate the “start” bit, and for the remainingdesignated bits, selectively modulate phases to indicate a byte value of“10101010” which, in hexadecimal, is the hexadecimal value of “AA.” Insome examples, the byte value may be designated to be a communicationfor “request ID” such that, when the signaling-control device 120identifies the modulations of the AC current waveform 206 according tothe bye value of “10101010,” the signaling-control device 120 maydetermine that the A/V device 106 is requesting that thesignaling-control device 120 respond with a communication indicating thedevice ID.

In some examples, the AC current waveform 206 may indicate othercommunications and/or data. For instance, the AC current waveform 206may be modulated to indicate to the signaling-control device 120 aspecific melody or sound it is to play. For instance, thesignaling-control device 120 may have multiple sounds or melodies it isconfigured to play, and may determine which of those sounds or melodiesthat the signaling device 114 is to output based on the bits in themodulation of the AC current waveform 206. As another example, the ACcurrent waveform 206 may be modulated to indicate to thesignaling-control device 120 how long the sound is to be emitted by thesignaling device 114. For example, the byte value indicated by themodulation of the AC current waveform 206 may indicate that thesignaling-control device 120 is to divert AC current to the signalingdevice 114 for 5 seconds, 10 seconds, etc.

FIG. 2D illustrates another example of an AC current waveform 210 alongwith example phase designations 212. In this scenario, thesignaling-control device 120 may communicate a device ID using the ACcurrent waveform 210 to the A/V device 106. For example, thesignaling-control device 120 may selectively modulate the AC currentwaveform 210 to indicate its device ID. As illustrated, thesignaling-control device 120 may modulate a positive phase portion ofthe AC current waveform 210 to indicate the “start” bit, and for theremaining designated bits, selectively modulate phases to indicate abyte value of “11101110” which, in hexadecimal, is the hexadecimal valueof “EE.” In some examples, the byte value may be “EE” and correspond toa device identifier for the signaling-control device 120 and/or thesignaling device 114. When the A/V device 106 identifies the modulationsof the AC current waveform 210 according to the bye value of “11101110,”the A/V device 106 may store an indication of the device ID of thesignaling-control device 120.

FIG. 2E illustrates another example of an AC current waveform 214 alongwith example phase designations 216. In some examples, the A/V device106 and the signaling-control device 120 may be configured to analyze ACcurrent waveforms 214 according to the indicated phase designations 216.For example, the A/V device 106 and the signaling-control device 120 maybe configured to detect a start bit, which may comprise a modulation ofa negative phase of a period of the AC current waveform 200, such asapproximately 180 degrees of a period of the waveform 200. The “start”bit may indicate to the A/V device 106 and/or the signaling-controldevice 120 that subsequent modulations of the AC current waveform 200indicate information or data being communicated. Subsequent to the“start” bit may be one or more phases that are designated for supplyingpower to the devices followed by phase designations 202 for bits to becommunicated by the A/V device 106 and/or the signaling-control device120.

For example, for four consecutive periods of the AC current waveform200, the positive phase portions of each segment may be designated inthe phase designations 216 as being two bits that indicate a “1” or a“0” depending on whether the A/V device 106 and/or the signaling-controldevice 120 modulate the phase. Thus, the positive phase portions may besplit into two portions, such as roughly two 90-degree portions of the180 degrees portion of the wave period or wave cycle, may be designatedas bits to convey data, and the negative phase portions, such as roughly180 degrees of the wave period, may be designated as power to ensurethat the A/V device 106 and/or the signaling-control device 120 receivesufficient power to operate. The A/V device 106 and/or thesignaling-control device 120 may be configured to modulate and/or detectthe “start” bit, and modulate, or identify modulations, of roughly half(e.g., 90 degrees) of the positive phase portions of the AC currentwaveform 214 as being modulated or not. The A/V device 106 and/or thesignaling-control device 120 may modulate and/or write “1s” or “0s” tomemory based on detecting a modulation, or a lack of modulation, foreach of the bits 1-8 represented in the four waveform cycles. In thisway, the A/V device 106 and/or the signaling-control device 120 maycommunicate information by modulating phases of an AC current waveform200, and be configured to understand which phases following a “start”bit indicate a “1” or a “0.” Further, more bits may be communicated inless amounts of the AC current waveform 214 may designating, in thephase designations 216, a positive (or negative) phase portion asrepresenting two bits in 90-degree portions of the 180-degree phaseportion.

FIG. 2F illustrates an example AC current waveform 218 that is modulatedby the A/V device 106 and/or the signaling-control device 120 in orderto communicate data between devices using the AC current waveform 218.As illustrated, the AC current waveform 218 may begin the communicationwith a designed “start” bit, which may comprise a modulation of anegative phase portion of a wave period. Following the start bit, thenext positive phase portion may indicate two bits, in roughly 980-degreeportions, such as a “1” and a “0.” The following positive phase portionfor the next wave cycle may be selectively modulated to indicate, in90-degree portions, a “0” followed by a “1.” Similarly, the twofollowing positive phase portions in the following two wave cycles mayindicate bits of “0,” “0,” “1,” and “1” to represent a byte value of“10010011” or a hex value of 93.

Generally, the techniques described with reference to FIGS. 2A-2F may beperformed in many different ways. Stated otherwise, modulating phaseportions of an AC current waveform may be performed in various ways tocommunicate data, and the techniques described herein are not limited tothe examples shown in FIGS. 2A-2F. For instance, any portion of thephase of an AC current waveform may be modulated to indicate data.Further, power bits need not necessarily be used between data bits, suchas in examples where the A/V device 106 and/or signaling-control device120 have internal power supplies (e.g., battery, super capacitors,capacitors, etc.). Even further, any arrangement of modulations,sequence of modulations, phase portions that are modulated, etc., may beused according to the techniques described herein. Generally, thetechniques described herein include any type of communication performedat least in part by modulating at least a portion of a phase of an ACcurrent waveform, or AC power waveform, to indicate data.

FIGS. 3A-3D illustrate a flow diagram of a process 300 for the A/Vdevice to control the flow of AC current in order to instruct thesignaling-control device 120 to either close the shunt 122 to cause theAC power to bypass the signaling device 114, or open the shunt 122 tocause the AC power to flow through the signaling device 114 and causethe signaling device 114 to emit sound. More specifically, the A/Vdevice 106 may use one or more signal relays to open the doorbellcircuit 112, and/or close the doorbell circuit 112, to instruct thesignaling-control device 120 to activate and/or de-active the signalingdevice 114. As illustrated in FIGS. 3A-3D, the A/V device 106 may notonly include the A/V series signal relay 124, but may further include anA/V shunt signal relay 301. Generally, the A/V shunt signal relay 301may comprise any type of switch that is connected in parallel with atleast a power load of the A/V device 106, and potentially the entire A/Vdevice 106. Accordingly, when the A/V device 106 closes the A/V shuntsignal relay 301, the AC current flowing through the doorbell circuit112 may bypass the A/V device 106, thereby creating a closed circuitwhere the A/V device 106 is bypassed (assuming the A/V series signalrelay 124 is closed as well).

At 302, the doorbell circuit 112 may be in a normal operation mode, oran “idle state,” where the shunt 122 is closed, the A/V series signalrelay 124 is closed and the A/V shunt signal relay 301 such that the ACcurrent flowing in the doorbell circuit 112 bypasses the signalingdevice 114 and passes through the A/V device 106. In this idle state,the A/V device 106 may draw as much current as it is rated to drawwithout inadvertently causing the signaling device 114 to emit sound.For example, the signaling-control device 120 may cause the AC power tobypass the signaling device 114 and flow to the A/V device 106 for useby components of the A/V device, such as the processor, microphone,camera, wireless communication component, etc.

At 304, the A/V device 106 may signal to the signaling-control device120 to activate the signaling device 114. In some examples, the A/Vdevice 106 may receive an instruction to cause the signaling device 114to emit sound, such as input received at a doorbell button of the A/Vdevice 106. In such examples, the A/V device 106 may open the A/V seriessignal relay 124, and potentially the A/V shunt signal relay 301, suchthat the doorbell circuit 112 is in an open-circuit state where the ACcurrent is no longer able to flow. The signaling-control device 120 maydetect the open-circuit state, such as by using the signaling devicecurrent-sense resistor 128 and/or a voltage sense, and be configured toperform various operations based on detecting the open-circuit state.For instance, the signaling-control device 120 may be configured todetermine that the open-circuit state indicates a request from the A/Vdevice 106 to have the signaling device 114 emit sound.

At 306, the signaling-control device 120 may remove the bypass aroundthe signaling device 114, such as by opening the shunt 112, to initiatea sounding state. However, the A/V series signal relay 124 is stillopen, creating the open doorbell circuit 112. Thus, the AC current isnot able to flow through the doorbell circuit 112.

At 308, the signaling device 114 may be activated, causing the doorbellcircuit 112 to enter into a sounding state. For instance, once the A/Vdevice 106 has created the open-circuit state for a sufficient period oftime for the signaling-control device 120 to detect the open-circuitstate, the A/V device 106 may create a closed-circuit state for thedoorbell circuit 112 by closing the A/V series signal relay 124 and theA/V shunt signal relay 301. The A/V device may cause the A/V seriessignal relay 124, which is connected in series with the signaling device114, to close, and may further cause the A/V shunt signal relay 301,which is connected in parallel with a power load of the A/V device 106,to close. In this way, the power load of the A/V device 106 may bebypassed by the A/V shunt signal relay 301 thereby creating a shuntaround the A/V device 106 power load. In this way, the A/V device 106may close at least two signal relays in order to create a closed-circuitstate such that current flowing through the doorbell circuit 112bypasses the A/V device 106. In this way, all of the current flowingthrough the doorbell circuit 112 is drawn by the signaling device 114 inorder to cause the signaling device 114 to emit sound.

At 310, the A/V device 106 may enter an initiate-idle state bysignaling, or instructing, the signaling-control device 120 to have theAC current bypass the signaling device 114. For example, after apredetermined period of time, or until input is no longer received atthe doorbell button, the A/V device 106 may signal to thesignaling-control device 120 to stop causing the signaling device 114 tosound. The A/V device 106 may open at least the A/V series signal relay124 that is connected in series with the signaling-control device 120and the A/V device 106 in order to create the open-circuit state for aperiod of time. The signaling-control device 120 may detect, using atleast one of a current-sense resistor 1281 or a voltage sense, theopen-circuit state created by the A/V device 108. Responsive todetecting the open-circuit state, the signaling-control device 120 mayclose the shunt 122 in order to create a bypass around the signalingdevice 114 and signaling device 114.

At 312, the signaling device 114 may be bypassed by the shunt 122, andthe doorbell circuit 112 may be in an open circuit state. For instance,the A/V series signal relay 124 may be open, and the A/V shunt signalrelay 301 may also be open in some examples, such that AC current is notable to flow through the doorbell circuit 112.

At 314, the A/V device 106 may enter into the idle state and draw ACcurrent from the AC power source 116. For instance, after apredetermined period of time, the A/V device 106 may close the A/Vseries signal relay 124 positioned between the signaling-control device120 and the A/V device 106, and open the A/V shunt signal relay 301 (ifnot already opened) that is connected in parallel with at least thepower load of the A/V device 106 (if not already opened) to place theA/V device 106 back in the normal operating state. Stated otherwise, theA/V device 106 may use the signal relays such that the AC currentbypasses the signaling device 114 and flows through the power load ofthe AC device 106. In this way, the A/V device 106 may selectivelycontrol the flow of AC current through the doorbell circuit 112 tocommunicate with the signaling-control device 120. In such examples, theA/V device 106 may be able to draw the full rated amount of power foroperating various components of the A/V device 106, and also be able toprovide the full amount of power to the signaling device 114 to emitsound. Further, the A/V device 106 may communicate with thesignaling-control device 120 in order to ensure that the signalingdevice 114 is not inadvertently activated when the A/V device 106 drawsAC current through the doorbell circuit 112.

FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram illustrating a system 400 forcommunicating in a network according to various aspects of the presentdisclosure. Home automation, or smart home, is building automation forthe home. Home automation enable users (e.g., home owners and authorizedindividuals) to control and/or automate various devices and/or systems,such as lighting, heating (e.g., smart thermostats), ventilation, homeentertainment, air conditioning (HVAC), blinds/shades, security devices(e.g., contact sensors, smoke/CO detectors, motion sensors, etc.),washers/dryers, ovens, refrigerators/freezers, and/or other networkconnected devices suitable for use in the home. In various embodiments,Wi-Fi is used for remote monitoring and control of such devices and/orsystems. Smart home devices (e.g., hub devices 402, sensors 404,automation devices 406, a virtual assistant (VA) device 408, Audio/Video(A/V) recording and communication devices 410, etc.), when remotelymonitored and controlled via a network (Internet/a public switchedtelephone network (PSTN)) 412, may be considered to be components of the“Internet of Things.” Smart home systems may include switches and/orsensors (e.g., the sensors 404) connected to a central hub such as thesmart-home hub device 402 and/or the VA device 408 (the hub device 402and/or the VA device 408 may alternatively be referred to as a gateway,a controller, a home-automation hub, or an intelligent personalassistance device) from which the system may be controlled throughvarious user interfaces, such as voice commands and/or a touchscreen.Various examples, of user interfaces may include any or all of awall-mounted terminal (e.g., a keypad, a touchscreen, etc.), softwareinstalled on the client devices 414, 416 (e.g., a mobile application), atablet computer, or a web interface. Furthermore, these user interfacesare often but not always supported by Internet cloud services. In oneexample, the Internet cloud services are responsible for obtaining userinput via the user interfaces (e.g., a user interface of the hub device402 and/or the VA device 408) and causing the smart home devices (e.g.,the sensors 404, the automation devices 406, etc.) to perform anoperation in response to the user input.

The hub device 402, the VA device 408, the sensors 404, the automationdevices 406, the A/V recording and communication devices 410, and/orclient devices 414, 416 may use one or more wired and/or wirelesscommunication protocols to communicate, including, for example andwithout limitation, Wi-Fi (e.g., the user's network 418), X10, Ethernet,RS-485, 6LoWPAN, Bluetooth LE (BLE), ZigBee, Z-Wave, and/or a low powerwide-area networks (LPWAN), such as a chirp spread spectrum (CSS)modulation technology network (e.g., LoRaWAN), an Ultra Narrow Bandmodulation technology network (e.g., Sigfox, Telensa, NB-IoT, etc.),RingNet, and/or the like.

The user's network 418 may be, for example, a wired and/or wirelessnetwork. If the user's network 418 is wireless, or includes a wirelesscomponent, the user's network 418 may be a Wi-Fi network compatible withthe IEEE 802.11 standard and/or other wireless communicationstandard(s). Furthermore, the user's network 418 may be connected toother networks such as the network 412, which may comprise, for example,the Internet and/or PSTN.

The system 400 may include one or more A/V recording and communicationdevices 410 (alternatively be referred to herein as “A/V devices 410” or“A/V device 410”) (which may represent, and/or be similar to, the A/Vdevice 106 of FIGS. 1, 2A-2F, and 3A-3D). The A/V devices 410 mayinclude security cameras 410(a), light cameras 410(b) (e.g., floodlightcameras, spotlight cameras, etc.), video doorbells 410(c) (e.g., wallpowered and/or battery powered video doorbells), and/or other devicescapable of recording audio data and/or image data. The A/V devices 410may be configured to access a user's network 418 to connect to a network(Internet/PSTN) 412 and/or may be configured to access a cellularnetwork to connect to the network (Internet/PSTN) 412. The componentsand functionality of the A/V devices 410 are described in more detailbelow with respect to FIG. 5.

The system 400 may further include a smart-home hub device 402 (whichmay alternatively be referred to herein as the “hub device 402”)connected to the user's network 418 and/or the network (Internet/PSTN)412. The smart-home hub device 402 (also known as a home automation hub,gateway device, or network device), may comprise any device thatfacilitates communication with and control of the sensors 404,automation devices 406, the VA device 408, and/or the one or more A/Vdevices 410. For example, the smart-home hub device 402 may be acomponent of a security system and/or a home automation system installedat a location (e.g., a property, a premise, a home, a business, etc.).In some embodiments, the A/V devices 410, the VA device 408, the sensors404, and/or the automation devices 406 communicate with the smart-homehub device 402 directly and/or indirectly using one or more wirelessand/or wired communication protocols (e.g., BLE, Zigbee, Z-Wave, etc.),the user's network 418 (e.g., Wi-Fi, Ethernet, etc.), and/or the network(Internet/PSTN) 412. In some of the present embodiments, the A/V devices410, the VA device 408, the sensors 404, and/or the automation devices406 may, in addition to or in lieu of communicating with the smart-homehub device 402, communicate with the client devices 414, 416, the VAdevice 408, and/or one or more of components of the network ofservers/backend devices 420 directly and/or indirectly via the user'snetwork 418 and/or the network (Internet/PSTN) 412. In some examples, atleast one of the network(s) 112 may correspond to, or include, thenetwork 412.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, the system 400 includes the VA device 408. TheVA device 408 may be connected to the user's network 418 and/or thenetwork (Internet/PSTN) 412. The VA device 408 may include anintelligent personal assistant, such as, without limitation, AmazonAlexa® and/or Apple Siri®. For example, the VA device 408 may beconfigured to receive voice commands, process the voice commands todetermine one or more actions and/or responses (e.g., transmit the voicecommands to the one or more components of the network of servers/backenddevices 420 for processing), and perform the one or more actions and/orresponses, such as to activate and/or change the status of one or moreof the sensors 404, automation devices 406, or A/V devices 410. In someembodiments, the VA device 408 is configured to process user inputs(e.g., voice commands) without transmitting information to the networkof servers/backend devices 420 for processing. The VA device 408 mayinclude at least one speaker (e.g., for playing music, for outputtingthe audio data generated by the A/V devices 410, for outputting thevoice of a digital assistant, etc.), at least one a microphone (e.g.,for receiving commands, for recording audio data, etc.), and a display(e.g., for displaying a user interface, for displaying the image datagenerated by the A/V devices 410, etc.). In various embodiments, the VAdevice 408 may include an array of speakers that are able to producebeams of sound. Although illustrated as a separate component in FIG. 4,in some embodiments the VA device 408 may not be a separate componentfrom the hub device 402. In such embodiments, the hub device 402 mayinclude the functionality of the VA device 408 or the VA device 408 mayinclude the functionality of the hub device 402.

The one or more sensors 404 may include, for example, at least one of adoor sensor, a window sensor, a contact sensor, a tilt sensor, atemperature sensor, a carbon monoxide sensor, a smoke detector, a lightsensor, a glass break sensor, a freeze sensor, a flood sensor, amoisture sensor, a motion sensor, and/or other sensors that may providethe user/owner of the security system a notification of a security eventat his or her property.

The one or more automation devices 406 may include, for example, atleast one of an outdoor lighting system, an indoor lighting system, andindoor/outdoor lighting system, a temperature control system (e.g., athermostat), a shade/blind control system, a locking control system(e.g., door lock, window lock, etc.), a home entertainment automationsystem (e.g., TV control, sound system control, etc.), an irrigationcontrol system, a wireless signal range extender (e.g., a Wi-Fi rangeextender, a Z-Wave range extender, etc.) a doorbell chime, a barriercontrol device (e.g., an automated door hinge), a smart doormat, and/orother automation devices.

As described herein, in some of the present embodiments, some or all ofthe client devices 414, 416, the A/V device(s) 410, the smart-home hubdevice 402, the VA device 408, the sensors 404, and the automationdevices 406 may be referred to as a security system and/or ahome-automation system. The security system and/or home-automationsystem may be installed at location, such as a property, home, business,or premises for the purpose of securing and/or automating all or aportion of the location.

The system 400 may further include one or more client devices 414, 416.The client devices 414, 416 may communicate with and/or be associatedwith (e.g., capable of access to and control of) the A/V devices 410, asmart-home hub device 402, the VA device 408, sensors 404, and/orautomation devices 406. In various embodiments, the client devices 414,416 communicate with other devices using one or more wireless and/orwired communication protocols, the user's network, and/or the network(Internet/PSTN) 412, as described herein. The client devices 414, 416may comprise, for example, a mobile device such as a smartphone or apersonal digital assistant (PDA), or a computing device such as a tabletcomputer, a laptop computer, a desktop computer, etc. In someembodiments, the client devices 414, 416 includes a connected device,such as a smart watch, Bluetooth headphones, another wearable device, orthe like. In such embodiments, the client devices 414, 416 may include acombination of the smartphone or other device and a connected device(e.g., a wearable device), such that alerts, data, and/or informationreceived by the smartphone or other device are provided to the connecteddevice, and one or more controls of the smartphone or other device maybe input using the connected device (e.g., by touch, voice, etc.).

The A/V devices 410, the hub device 402, the VA device 408, theautomation devices 406, the sensors 404, and/or the client devices 414,416 may also communicate, via the user's network 418 and/or the network(Internet/PSTN) 412, with network(s) of servers and/or backend devices420, such as (but not limited to) one or more remote storage devices 422(may be referred to interchangeably as “cloud storage device(s)”), oneor more backend servers 424, and one or more backend applicationprogramming interfaces (APIs) 426. While FIG. 4 illustrates the storagedevice 422, the backend server 424, and the backend API 426 ascomponents separate from the network 420, it is to be understood thatthe storage device 422, the backend server 424, and/or the backend API426 may be considered to be components of the network 420. For example,the network 420 may include a data center with a plurality of computingresources used to implement the storage device 422, the backend server424, and the backend API 426.

The backend server 424 may comprise a computer program or other computerexecutable code that, when executed by processor(s) of the backendserver 424, causes the backend server 424 to wait for requests fromother computer systems or software (clients) and provide responses. Inan embodiment, the backend server 424 shares data and/or hardware and/orsoftware resources among the client devices 414, 416. This architectureis called the client-server model. The client devices 414, 416 may runon the same computer or may connect to the backend server 424 over thenetwork (Internet/PSTN) 412 and/or the network 420. Examples ofcomputing servers include database servers, file servers, mail servers,print servers, web servers, game servers, and application servers. Theterm server may be construed broadly to include any computerized processthat shares a resource to one or more client processes.

The backend API 426 may comprise, for example, a server (e.g. a realserver, or a virtual machine, or a machine running in a cloudinfrastructure as a service), or multiple servers networked together,exposing at least one API to clients. In various embodiments, thebackend API 426 is provided by servers including various components suchas an application server (e.g. software servers), a caching layer, adatabase layer, or other components suitable for implementing one ormore APIs. The backend API 426 may, for example, comprise a plurality ofapplications, each of which communicate with one another using one ormore public APIs. In some embodiments, the backend API 426 maintainsuser data and provides user management capabilities, thereby reducingthe load (e.g., memory and processor consumption) of the client devices414, 416.

In various embodiments, an API is a set of routines, protocols, andtools for building software and applications. Furthermore, the API maydescribe a software component in terms of its operations, inputs,outputs, and underlying types, defining functionalities that areindependent of their respective implementations, which allowsdefinitions and implementations to vary without compromising theinterface. As such, the API may provide a programmer with access to aparticular application's functionality without the need to modify theparticular application.

The backend API 426 illustrated in FIG. 4 may further include one ormore services (also referred to as network services). A network serviceis an application that provides data storage, manipulation,presentation, communication, and/or other capability. Network servicesare often implemented using a client-server architecture based onapplication-layer network protocols. Each service may be provided by aserver component (e.g., the backend server 424) running on one or morecomputers (such as a dedicated server computer offering multipleservices) and accessed via a network by client components running onother devices (e.g., client devices 414, 416). However, the client andserver components can both be run on the same machine. Clients andservers may have a user interface, and sometimes other hardwareassociated with them.

The network 420 may be any wireless network, any wired network, or acombination thereof, configured to operatively couple theabove-mentioned modules, devices, components, and/or systems asillustrated in FIG. 4. For example, the network 420, the user's network418, and/or the network (Internet PSTN) 412 may include one or more ofthe following: a PSTN (public switched telephone network), the Internet,a local intranet, a PAN (Personal Area Network), a LAN (Local AreaNetwork), a WAN (Wide Area Network), a MAN (Metropolitan Area Network),a virtual private network (VPN), a storage area network (SAN), a framerelay connection, an Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN) connection, asynchronous optical network (SONET) connection, a digital T1, T3, E1 orE3 line, a Digital Data Service (DDS) connection, a DSL (DigitalSubscriber Line) connection, an Ethernet connection, an ISDN (IntegratedServices Digital Network) line, a dial-up port such as a V.90, V.34, orV.34bis analog modem connection, a cable modem, an ATM (AsynchronousTransfer Mode) connection, or an FDDI (Fiber Distributed Data Interface)or CDDI (Copper Distributed Data Interface) connection. Furthermore,communications may also include links to any of a variety of wirelessnetworks, including WAP (Wireless Application Protocol), GPRS (GeneralPacket Radio Service), GSM (Global System for Mobile Communication),LTE, VoLTE, LoRaWAN, LPWAN, RPMA, LTE Cat-“X” (e.g. LTE Cat 1, LTE Cat0, LTE CatM1, LTE Cat NB1), CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access), TDMA(Time Division Multiple Access), FDMA (Frequency Division MultipleAccess), and/or OFDMA (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access)cellular phone networks, global navigation satellite system (GNSS), suchas global positioning systems (GPS), CDPD (cellular digital packetdata), RIM (Research in Motion, Limited) duplex paging network,Bluetooth radio, or an IEEE 802.11-based radio frequency network. Thenetwork can further include or interface with any one or more of thefollowing: RS-252 serial connection, IEEE-4024 (Firewire) connection,Fibre Channel connection, IrDA (infrared) port, SCSI (Small ComputerSystems Interface) connection, USB (Universal Serial Bus) connection, orother wired or wireless, digital or analog, interface or connection,mesh or Digi® networking.

The hub device 402, the VA device 408, and/or any of the components ofthe network(s) of servers/backend devices 420 (e.g., the backend server424, the backend API 426, the storage devices 422, etc.) may be referredto herein as a “network device” or “network devices.”

With further reference to FIG. 4, the system 400 may also include asecurity monitoring service 428. The security monitoring service 428 maybe operated by the same company that manufactures, sells, and/ordistributes the A/V devices 410, the hub device 402, the VA device 408,the sensors 404, and/or the automation devices 406. In otherembodiments, the security monitoring service 428 may be operated by athird-party company (e.g., a different company than the one thatmanufactured, sold, and/or distributed the A/V devices 410, the hubdevice 402, the VA device 408, the sensors 404, and/or the automationdevices 406). In any of the present embodiments, the security monitoringservice 428 may have control of at least some of the features andcomponents of the security system and/or the home-automation system(e.g., the security monitoring service 428 may be able to arm and/ordisarm the security system, lock and/or unlock doors, activate and/ordeactivate one or more of the sensors 404 and/or the automation devices406, etc.). For example, the security monitoring service 428 may operateand control their own client devices and/or network of servers/backenddevices for monitoring and/or controlling security systems. In such anexample, the A/V devices 410, the hub device 402, the VA device 408, thesensors 404, and/or the automation devices 406 may communicate with theclient devices and/or one or more components of the network ofservers/backend devices of the security monitoring service 428 over thenetwork (Internet/PSTN) 412 (in some embodiments, via one or more of thecomponents of the network of backend servers/backend devices 420).

FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram for an audio/video (A/V) device(such as the A/V device 106 described in FIG. 13D and the A/V devices410) according to various aspects of the present disclosure. In someembodiments, the one or more A/V devices 410 may include the securitycamera 410(a). In other embodiments, the one or more A/V devices 410 mayinclude the light camera 410(b), which may include some or all of thecomponents of the security camera 410(a) in addition to a lightcontroller 502 and one or more lights 504(a), 504(b). In someembodiments, the one or more A/V devices 410 may include the videodoorbell 410(c), which may include some or all of the components of thesecurity camera 410(a) in addition to a button 506, and in someembodiments, a connection to a signaling device 508 (e.g., apre-installed signaling device, such as a wired signaling device, and/ora wireless signaling device, connected over Wi-Fi, BLE, or anotherwireless communication protocol).

With further reference to FIG. 5, the A/V device 410 may include aprocessor(s) 510, a network interface 512, a camera 514, a computervision module 516, a light sensor 518, an audio CODEC (coder-decoder)520, volatile memory 522, and non-volatile memory 524. The processor(s)510 (alternatively referred to herein as a “CPU,” a “controller,” and/ora “microcontroller) may comprise an integrated circuit including aprocessor core, memory, and programmable input/output peripherals. Theprocessor(s) 510 may receive input signals, such as data and/or power,from the camera 514, motion sensor(s) 526, light sensor 518,microphone(s) 528, speaker(s) 550, and/or the network interface 512, andmay perform various functions as described in the present disclosure. Invarious embodiments, when the processor(s) 510 is triggered by themotion sensor(s) 526, the camera 514, the speaker(s) 550, themicrophone(s) 528, the network interface 512, and/or another component,the processor(s) 510 performs one or more processes and/or functions.For example, when the light sensor 518 detects a low level of ambientlight, the light sensor 518 may trigger the processor(s) 510 to enable anight vision camera mode. The processor(s) 510 may also provide datacommunication between various components such as between the networkinterface 512 and the camera 514.

With further reference to FIG. 5, the network interface 512 may comprisean integrated circuit including a processor core, memory, andprogrammable input/output peripherals. The network interface 512 may beoperatively connected to the processor(s) 510. In some embodiments, thenetwork interface 512 is configured to handle communication linksbetween the A/V device 410 and other, external devices, externalreceivers, external transmitters, and/or external transceivers, and toroute incoming/outgoing data appropriately. For example, inbound datafrom an antenna 552 of the network interface 512 may be routed throughthe network interface 512 before being directed to the processor(s) 510,and outbound data from the processor(s) 510 may be routed through thenetwork interface 512 before being directed to the antenna 552 of thenetwork interface 512. As another example, the network interface 512 maybe configured to transmit data to and/or receive data from a remotenetwork device (e.g., one or more components of the network(s) ofservers/backend devices 420 described in FIG. 4). The network interface512 may include wireless 534(a) and wired 534(b) adapters. For example,the network interface 512 may include one or more wireless antennas,radios, receivers, transmitters, and/or transceivers (not shown in FIG.5 for simplicity) configured to enable communication across one or morewireless networks, such as, without limitation, Wi-Fi, cellular,Bluetooth, Z-Wave, Zigbee, LPWAN(s), and/or satellite networks. Thenetwork interface 512 may receive inputs, such as power and/or data,from the camera 514, the processor(s) 510, the button 506 (inembodiments where the A/V device 410 is the video doorbell 410(c)), themotion sensors 526, a reset button (not shown in FIG. 5 for simplicity),and/or the non-volatile memory 524. The network interface 512 may alsoinclude the capability of communicating over wired connections, such aswith a signaling device 508. For example, when the button 506 of thevideo doorbell 410(c) is pressed, the network interface 512 may betriggered to perform one or more functions, such as to transmit a signalover the wired 534(b) connection to the signaling device 508 (although,in some embodiments, the signal be transmitted over a wireless 534(a)connection to the signaling device) to cause the signaling device 508 toemit a sound (e.g., a doorbell tone, a user customized sound, aringtone, a seasonal ringtone, etc.). The network interface 512 may alsoact as a conduit for data communicated between various components andthe processor(s) 510.

With further reference to FIG. 5, the A/V device 410 may include thenon-volatile memory 524 and the volatile memory 522. The non-volatilememory 524 may comprise flash memory configured to store and/or transmitdata. For example, in certain embodiments the non-volatile memory 524may comprise serial peripheral interface (SPI) flash memory. In someembodiments, the non-volatile memory 524 may comprise, for example, NANDor NOR flash memory. The volatile memory 522 may comprise, for example,DDR3 SDRAM (double data rate type three synchronous dynamicrandom-access memory). In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5, thevolatile memory 522 and the non-volatile memory 524 are illustrated asbeing separate from the processor(s) 510. However, the illustration ofFIG. 5 is not intended to be limiting, and in some embodiments thevolatile memory 522 and/or the non-volatile memory 524 may be physicallyincorporated with the processor(s) 510, such as on the same chip. Thevolatile memory 522 and/or the non-volatile memory 524, regardless oftheir physical location, may be shared by one or more other components(in addition to the processor(s) 510) of the present A/V device 410.

With further reference to FIG. 5, the A/V device 410 may include thecamera 514. The camera 514 may include an image sensor 536. The imagesensor 536 may include a video recording sensor and/or a camera chip. Inone aspect of the present disclosure, the imager sensor 536 may comprisea complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) array and may becapable of recording high definition (e.g., 722p, 1800p, 4K, etc.) videofiles. The camera 514 may include a separate camera processor (not shownin FIG. 5 for simplicity), or the processor(s) 510 may perform thecamera processing functionality. The processor(s) 510 (and/or cameraprocessor) may include an encoding and compression chip. In someembodiments, the processor(s) 510 (and/or the camera processor) maycomprise a bridge processor. The processor(s) 510 (and/or the cameraprocessor) may process video recorded by the image sensor 536 and/oraudio recorded by the microphone(s) 528, and may transform this datainto a form suitable for transfer by the network interface 512 to thenetwork (Internet/PSTN) 412. In various embodiments, the camera 514 alsoincludes memory, such as volatile memory that may be used when data isbeing buffered or encoded by the processor(s) 510 (and/or the cameraprocessor). For example, in certain embodiments the camera memory maycomprise synchronous dynamic random-access memory (SD RAM).

The camera 514 may further include an IR cut filter 538 that maycomprise a system that, when triggered, configures the image sensor 536to see primarily infrared light as opposed to visible light. Forexample, when the light sensor 518 detects a low level of ambient light(which may comprise a level that impedes the performance of the imagesensor 536 in the visible spectrum), the light emitting components 540may shine infrared light through an enclosure of the A/V device 410 outto the environment, and the IR cut filter 538 may enable the imagesensor 536 to see this infrared light as it is reflected or refractedoff of objects within the field of view of the doorbell. This processmay provide the A/V device with the “night vision” function mentionedabove.

With further reference to FIG. 5, the recording and communication A/Vdevice 410 may comprise the light sensor 518 and the one or morelight-emitting components 540, such as LED's. The light sensor 518 maybe one or more sensors capable of detecting the level of ambient lightof the surrounding environment in which the A/V device 410 may belocated. The light-emitting components 540 may be one or morelight-emitting diodes capable of producing visible light when suppliedwith power (e.g., to enable night vision). In some embodiments, whenactivated, the light-emitting components 540 illuminates a light pipe.

The A/V device 410 may further include one or more speaker(s) 550 and/orone or more microphone(s) 528. The speaker(s) 550 may be anyelectromechanical device capable of producing sound in response to anelectrical signal input. The microphone(s) 528 may be anacoustic-to-electric transducer or sensor capable of converting soundwaves into an electrical signal. In some embodiments, the A/V device 410may include two or more microphone(s) 528 that are spaced from oneanother (e.g., located on different sides of the A/V device 410) toprovide noise cancelling and/or echo cancelling for clearer audio. Thespeaker(s) 550 and/or microphone(s) 528 may be coupled to an audio CODEC520 to enable digital audio received by client devices to bedecompressed and output by the speaker(s) 550 and/or to enable audiodata captured by the microphone(s) 528 to be compressed into digitalaudio data. The digital audio data may be received from and transmittedto client devices using the network interface 512 (in some embodiments,through one or more intermediary devices such as the hub device 402, theVA device 408, and/or one or more components of the network ofservers/backend devices 420 as described in FIG. 4). For example, when avisitor (or intruder) who is present in the area about the A/V device410 speaks, sound from the visitor (or intruder) is received by themicrophone(s) 528 and compressed by the audio CODEC 520. Digital audiodata is then sent through the network interface 512 to the network 412via the user's network 418, routed by the backend server 424 and/or thebackend API 426 and delivered to the client device(s) 414, 416 asdescribed above in connection with FIG. 4. When the user speaks, afterbeing transferred through the network 412, the user's network 418, andthe network interface 512, the digital audio data from the user isdecompressed by the audio CODEC 520 and emitted to the visitor throughthe speaker(s) 550.

With further reference to FIG. 5, the A/V device 410 may be batterypowered using a battery 542 and/or may be powered using a source ofexternal AC (alternating-current) power, such as a household AC powersupply (alternatively referred to herein as “AC mains” or “wall power”).The AC power may have a voltage in the range of 110-420 VAC, forexample. The incoming AC power may be received by an AC/DC adapter (notshown), which may convert the incoming AC power to DC (direct-current)and may step down the voltage from 110-420 VAC to a lower output voltageof about 12 VDC and an output current of about 2 A, for example. Invarious embodiments, the output of the AC/DC adapter is in a range fromabout 9 V to about 15 V and in a range from about 0.5 A to about 5 A.These voltages and currents are examples provided for illustration andare not intended to be limiting.

However, in other embodiments, a battery 542 may not be included. Inembodiments that include the battery 542, the A/V device 410 may includean integrated circuit (not shown) capable of arbitrating betweenmultiple voltage rails, thereby selecting the source of power for theA/V device 410. The A/V device 410 may have separate power railsdedicated to the battery 542 and the AC power source. In one aspect ofthe present disclosure, the A/V device 410 may continuously draw powerfrom the battery 542 to power the A/V device 410, while at the same timerouting the AC power to the battery, thereby allowing the battery 542 tomaintain a substantially constant level of charge. Alternatively, theA/V device 410 may continuously draw power from the AC power to powerthe doorbell, while only drawing from the battery 542 when the AC poweris low or insufficient. Still, in some embodiments, the battery 542comprises the sole source of power for the A/V device 410. In suchembodiments, the components of the A/V device 410 (e.g., springcontacts, connectors, etc.) are not be connected to a source of ACpower. When the battery 542 is depleted of its charge, it may berecharged, such as by connecting a power source to the battery 542(e.g., using a USB connector).

Although not illustrated in FIG. 5, in some embodiments, the A/V device410 may include one or more of an accelerometer, a barometer, a humiditysensor, and a temperature sensor. The accelerometer may be one or moresensors capable of sensing motion and/or acceleration. The one or moreof the accelerometer, the barometer, the humidity sensor, and thetemperature sensor may be located outside of a housing of the A/V device410 so as to reduce interference from heat, pressure, moisture, and/orother stimuli generated by the internal components of the A/V device410.

With further reference to FIG. 5, the A/V device 410 may include one ormore motion sensor(s) 526. However, in some embodiments, the motionsensor(s) 526 may not be included, such as where motion detection isperformed by the camera 514 or another device. The motion sensor(s) 526may be any type of sensor capable of detecting and communicating thepresence of an entity within their field of view. As such, the motionsensor(s) 526 may include one or more (alone or in combination)different types of motion sensors. For example, in some embodiments, themotion sensor(s) 526 may comprise passive infrared (PIR) sensors, whichmay be secured on or within a PIR sensor holder that may reside behind alens (e.g., a Fresnel lens). In such an example, the PIR sensors maydetect IR radiation in a field of view, and produce an output signal(typically a voltage) that changes as the amount of IR radiation in thefield of view changes. The amount of voltage in the output signal may becompared, by the processor(s) 510, for example, to one or more thresholdvoltage values to determine if the amount of voltage in the outputsignal is indicative of motion, and/or if the amount of voltage in theoutput signal is indicative of motion of an entity that is to becaptured by the camera 514 (e.g., motion of a person and/or animal mayprompt activation of the camera 514, while motion of a vehicle may not).Although the above discussion of the motion sensor(s) 526 primarilyrelates to PIR sensors, depending on the embodiment, the motionsensor(s) 526 may include additional and/or alternate sensor types thatproduce output signals including alternative data types. For example,and without limitation, the output signal may include an amount ofvoltage change based on the presence of infrared radiation in a field ofview of an active infrared (AIR) sensor, the output signal may includephase shift data from a microwave-type motion sensor, the output signalmay include doppler shift data from an ultrasonic-type motion sensor,the output signal may include radio wave disturbance from atomographic-type motion sensor, and/or the output signal may includeother data types for other sensor types that may be used as the motionsensor(s) 526 of the A/V device 410.

In some embodiments, computer vision module(s) (CVM) 516 may be includedin the A/V device 410 as the motion sensor(s) 526, in addition to, oralternatively from, other motion sensor(s) 526. For example, the CVM 516may be a low-power CVM (e.g., Qualcomm Glance) that, by operating at lowpower (e.g., less than 2 mW of end-to-end power), is capable ofproviding computer vision capabilities and functionality for batterypowered devices (e.g., the A/V device 410 when powered by the battery542). The low-power CVM may include a lens, a CMOS image sensor, and adigital processor that may perform embedded processing within thelow-power CVM itself, such that the low-power CVM may outputpost-processed computer vision metadata to the processor(s) 510 (e.g.,via a serial peripheral bus interface (SPI)). As such, the low-power CVMmay be considered to be one or more of the motion sensor(s) 526, and thedata type output in the output signal may be the post-processed computervision metadata. The metadata may include information such as thepresence of a particular type of entity (e.g., person, animal, vehicle,parcel, etc.), a direction of movement of the entity, a distance of theentity from the A/V device 410, etc. In various embodiments, the motionsensor(s) 526 include a plurality of different sensor types capable ofdetecting motion such as PIR, AIR, low-power CVM, and/or cameras.

As indicated above, the A/V device 410 may include the CVM 516 (whichmay be the same as the above described low-power CVM 516 implemented asone or more motion sensor(s) 526, or may be additional to, oralternative from, the above described low-power CVM 516). For example,the A/V device 410, the hub device 402, the VA device 408, and/or one ormore component of the network(s) of servers/backend devices 420 mayperform any or all of the computer vision processes and functionalitiesdescribed herein. In addition, although the CVM 516 is only illustratedas a component of the A/V device 410, the computer vision module 516 mayadditionally, or alternatively, be included as a component of the hubdevice 402, the VA device 408, and/or one or more components of thenetwork of servers/backend devices 420. With respect to the A/V device410, the CVM 516 may include any of the components (e.g., hardware)and/or functionality described herein with respect to computer vision,including, without limitation, one or more cameras, sensors, and/orprocessors. In some of the present embodiments, with reference to FIG.5, the microphone(s) 528, the camera 514, the processor(s) 510, and/orthe image sensor 536 may be components of the CVM 516. In someembodiments, the CVM 516 may include an internal camera, image sensor,and/or processor, and the CVM 516 may output data to the processor(s)510 in an output signal, for example.

In embodiments where the A/V device 410 includes a light camera, the A/Vdevice 410 may include the light controller 502 and one or more lights504(a), 504(b) (collectively referred to herein as “lights 504”). Thelight controller 502 may include a switch for controlling the lights504. For example, in response to the motions sensor(s) 526 and/or thecamera 514 detecting motion, the light controller 236 may receive anoutput signal from the processor(s) 510 that causes the light controller502 to activate the one or more lights 504(a), 504(b). In someembodiments, the light camera may include motion sensor(s) 526 detectingmotion for controlling activation of the lights 504, and may furtherinclude the camera 514 for detecting motion for activating the recordingof the image data using the camera 514 and/or the recording of the audiodata using the microphone(s) 528. In other embodiments, the motionsensor(s) 526 may detect the motion for activating the lights 504, thecamera 514, and the microphone(s) 528, or the camera 514 may detect themotion for activating the lights 504, the camera 514 to being recordingthe image data, and the microphone(s) 528 to being recording the audiodata. The lights 504 may include floodlights, spotlights, porch lights,or another type of illumination device. The lights 504 may provide forbetter image data quality when ambient light levels are low (e.g., atdusk, dawn, or night), while also providing a deterrent effect by beingilluminated when motion is detected.

With further reference to FIG. 5, in embodiments where the A/V device410 includes a doorbell, such as the video doorbell 410(c), the A/Vdevice 410 may include the button 506. In embodiments where the button506 is a mechanical button (e.g., has a range of movement), the button506 may make contact with a button actuator located within the videodoorbell 410(c) when the button 506 is pressed. In embodiments where thebutton 506 is not mechanical (e.g., has no range of motion), the button506 may include a capacitive touch button, a resistive touch button, asurface acoustic wave (SAW) button, an infrared (IR) button, an opticalimaging button, an acoustic pulse recognition button, and/or a buttonthat implements a low-power CVM for the detection of a person (e.g., afinger, hand, etc., of a person). When the button 506 is pressed,touched, and/or otherwise triggered, the processor(s) 510 may receive anoutput signal from the button 506 that may activate one or morefunctions of the video doorbell 410(c), such as transmitting an outputsignal, using the network interface 512, to the signaling device 508 tocause the signaling device 508 to output a sound (e.g., via the wired534(b) connection to the signaling device 508 and/or a wireless 534(a)connection to the signaling device 508). In addition, the processor(s)510 may transmit an output signal (e.g., a notification), using thenetwork interface 512, to the client device(s) 414, 416 to indicate tothe user(s) of the client device(s) 414, 416 that a person is present atthe A/V device 410 (in some embodiments, via at least one of the hubdevice 402, the VA device 408, and/or one or more component of thenetwork of servers/backend devices 420).

Although the A/V recording and communication device 410 (or A/V device410) is referred to herein as an “audio/video” device, the A/V device410 need not have both audio and video functionality. For example, insome embodiments, the A/V device 410 may not include the speakers 550,microphones 528, and/or audio CODEC. In such examples, the A/V device410 may only have video recording and communication functionalities. Inother examples, the A/V device 410 may only have the speaker(s) 550 andnot the microphone(s) 528, or may only have the microphone(s) 528 andnot the speaker(s) 550. In some examples, the A/V device 410 describedin FIG. 5 may be the same as A/V device 104. In such examples, A/Vdevice 104 may include some or all of the components illustrated asbeing included in the A/V device 410 in FIG. 5 to perform the techniquesdescribed herein.

FIG. 6 is another functional block diagram illustrating an embodiment ofthe A/V device 410 according to various aspects of the presentdisclosure. In some embodiments, the A/V device 410 may represent, andfurther include one or more of the components from, the A/V recordingand communication doorbell 410(c), the A/V recording and communicationsecurity camera 410(a), and/or the floodlight controller 410(b).Additionally, in some embodiments, the A/V device 410 may omit one ormore of the components shown in FIG. 6 and/or may include one or moreadditional components not shown in FIG. 6.

As shown in FIG. 6, the A/V device 410 includes memory 602, which mayrepresent the volatile memory 522 and/or the non-volatile memory 524.The memory 602 stores a device application 604. In various embodiments,the device application 604 may store instructions that, when executed bythe processor(s) 510, cause the processor(s) 510 to capture image data606 (e.g., image data 110) using the camera 514, audio data 608 usingthe microphone(s) 528, input data 610 using the button 506 (and/or thecamera 514 and/or the motion sensor(s) 526, depending on theembodiment), and/or motion data 612 using the camera 514 and/or themotion sensor(s) 526. In some embodiments, the device application 604may also store instructions that, when executed by the processor(s) 510,cause the processor(s) 510 to generate text data 614 describing theimage data 606, the audio data 608, and/or the input data 610, such asin the form of metadata, for example.

In addition, the device application 604 may store instructions that,when executed by the processor(s) 510, cause the processor(s) 510 totransmit the image data 606, the audio data 608, the motion data 612,the Input data 610, the text data 614, and/or notification(s) 616 to theclient devices 414, 416, the hub device 402, and/or the backend server424 using the network interface 512. In various embodiments, the deviceapplication 604 may also store instructions that, when executed by theprocessor(s) 510, cause the processor(s) 510 to generate and transmit anoutput signal 618 that may include the image data 606, the audio data608, the text data 614, the input data 610, and/or the motion data 612.In some of the present embodiments, the output signal 618 may betransmitted to the backend server 424 and/or the hub device 402 usingthe network interface 512. The backend server 424 may then transmit (orforward) the output signal 618 to the client device(s) 414, 416, and/orthe hub device 402 may then transmit (or forward) the output signal 618to the client device(s) 414, 416, and/or the hub device 402 may thentransmit (or forward) the output signal 618 to the backend server 424,and the backend server 424 may then transmit (or forward) the outputsignal 618 to the client device(s) 414, 416. In other embodiments, theoutput signal 618 may be transmitted directly to the client device(s)414, 416 by the A/V device 410.

In further reference to FIG. 6, the image data 606 may comprise imagesensor data such as (but not limited to) exposure values and dataregarding pixel values for a particular sized grid. The image data 606may include still images, live video, and/or pre-recorded images and/orvideo. The image data 606 may be recorded by the camera 514 in a fieldof view of the camera 514. The image data 606 may be representative of(e.g., depict) a physical environment in a field of view of the camera606. In some embodiments, the physical environment 106 may include oneor more objects (e.g., persons, vehicles, animals, items, etc.), and theimage data 606 may be representative of the one or more objects, such asthe one or more objects within the physical environment 106.

In further reference to FIG. 6, the motion data 612 may comprise motionsensor data generated in response to motion events. For example, themotion data 612 may include an amount or level of a data type generatedby the motion sensor(s) 526 (e.g., the voltage level output by themotion sensor(s) 526 when the motion sensor(s) 526 are PIR type motionsensor(s)). In some of the present embodiments, such as those where theA/V device 410 does not include the motion sensor(s) 526, the motiondata 612 may be generated by the camera 514. In such embodiments, basedon a frame by frame comparison of changes in the pixels from the imagedata 606, it may be determined that motion is present.

The input data 610 may include data generated in response to an input tothe button 506. The button 506 may receive an input (e.g., a press, atouch, a series of touches and/or presses, etc.) and may generate theinput data 610 in response that is indicative of the type of input. Inembodiments where the A/V device 410 is not a doorbell (e.g., the videodoorbell 410(c)), the A/V device 410 may not include the button 506, andthe A/V device 410 may not generate the input data 610.

With further reference to FIG. 6, a notification 616 may be generated bythe processor(s) 510 and transmitted, using the network interface 512,to the client device 414, 416, the backend server 424, and/or the hubdevice 402. For example, in response to detecting motion using thecamera 514 and/or the motion sensor(s) 526, the A/V device 410 maygenerate and transmit the notification 616. In some of the presentembodiments, the notification 616 may include at least the image data606, the audio data 608, the text data 614, and/or the motion data 612.

As described herein, the notification(s) 616 may include messages,signals, data, notifications, and/or any type of electroniccommunication that electronic devices (e.g., the A/V device 410, theclient device 414, 416, the hub device 402, and/or one or morecomponents of the network(s) of servers/backend devices 420) maytransmit and receive with other electronic devices (e.g., the A/V device410, the client device 414, 416, the hub device 402, and/or one or morecomponents of the network(s) of servers/backend devices 420). Forinstance, notification(s) 616 may include push notifications, emailmessages, short message service (SMS) messages, multimedia messages(MMS), voicemail messages, video signals, audio signals, datatransmissions, and/or any other type of electronic communication that anelectronic device can send to another electronic device.

The image data 606, the audio data 608, the text data 614, and/or themotion data 612 may be tagged with (e.g., a time stamp, based on clockdata) and/or stored separately (e.g., on the backend server 424, the hubdevice 402, and/or the A/V device 410) based on when the motion wasdetected, how long the motion was detected for, and/or a duration oftime associated with the detected motion, or motion event (e.g., theduration of time may include the time the motion was detected plus anadditional time, such as, without limitation, 5 seconds, 10 seconds, or50 seconds). For example, each separate detection of motion, or motionevent, may be associated with image data 606, audio data 608, text data614, and/or motion data 612 representative of the detection of motion,or motion event. As a result, when a request for data pertaining toparticular motion event, or a particular time period, is received (e.g.,by the client device 414, 416, the backend server 424, and/or the hubdevice 402), the image data 606, the audio data 608, the text data 614,and/or the motion data 612 associated with a particular motion event,and/or associated with motion event(s) within the particular timeperiod, may be transmitted, retrieved, and/or received.

Although examples discuss the A/V device 410 generating and transmittingthe image data 606, the audio data 608, the text data 614, and/or themotion data 612 when motion is detected (e.g., in the notification 616),in other examples the data may be generated and/or transmitted at othertimes. For example, the image data 606, the audio data 608, the textdata 614, and/or the motion data 612 may be generated and transmittedcontinuously (e.g., in a streaming manner), periodically, upon request,etc. In examples where the image data 606, the audio data 608, the textdata 614, and/or the motion data 612 may be generated and transmittedcontinuously, the detection of motion (e.g., a motion event) may causean indication of when the motion was detected (e.g., a time stamp)and/or how long the motion was detected for (e.g., a duration) to beassociated with the image data 606, the audio data 608, the text data614, and/or the motion data 612. As a result, even though the image data606, the audio data 608, the text data 614, and/or the motion data 612may be continuously generated by the A/V device 410, the image data 606,the audio data 608, the text data 614, and/or the motion data 612associated with motion events may be tagged and/or stored separately(e.g., similar to that of the image data 606, the audio data 608, thetext data 614, and/or the motion data 612 generated in response to thedetection of motion), from the image data 606, the audio data 608, thetext data 614, and/or the motion data 612 that is not associated withmotion events.

As described herein, at least some of the processes of the backendserver 424, the hub device 402, and/or the client device 414, 416 may beexecuted by the A/V device 410. In some examples, the memory 602 of theA/V device 410 may further include user preferences 620 associated withuser(s) 118 of the A/V device 410. The user preferences 620 may bereceived from the client device 414, 416, the hub device 402, and/or thebackend server 424. Generally, the user preferences 620 may include anindication of a specified region of the FOV 108 of the camera 514 thatthe user 118 wishes to have presented on their client device 414, 416.Using these user preferences 620, an image-processing component 622 maybe executed by the processor(s) 510 to perform various operations forprocessing the image data 606. For example, the image-processingcomponent 622 may process the image data 606 according to the userpreferences 620 such that resulting processed image data 624 (e.g.,processed image data 136) may depict the specified region of thephysical environment 106, rather than the entire physical environment106 included on the FOV 108 of the camera 514 of the A/V device 410. Forexample, the image-processing component 622 may process the image data606 by cropping, or otherwise removing, the portions of the image data606 that do not depict or represent the specified region.

In some examples, rather than using the image-processing component 622to process image data 606, the A/V device 410 may execute a focuscomponent 626 which controls the focus and/or direction of view of thecamera 514 of the A/V device 410. For example, the focus component 626may determine, based on the user preferences 620, how to zoom-in,zoom-out, and/or change a direction of view of the camera 514 such thatthe image data 606 generated by the camera 514 represents the specifiedregion rather than the entire FOV 108 of the camera 514. In suchexamples, the image data 606 need not necessarily be processed becausethe image data 606, when generated by the camera 514 according to theuser preferences 620 at the correct focus determined by the focuscomponent 626, depicts the specified region when presented on the clientdevice 116. Thus, the image data 606, when generated by the camera 514when focused according to the user preferences 620 by the focuscomponent 626, may simply be sent to the backend server 424 to berelayed to the client device 414, 416 to be presented on a display ofthe client device 414, 416.

As illustrated, the A/V device 410 may further include the A/V seriessignal relay 124, the A/V current-sense resistor 136, and the A/V shuntsignal relay 301 described above. Generally, the A/V series signal relay124 and/or the A/V shunt signal relay 301 may each be or include anytype of electrical switches, mechanical switches, and/orelectromechanical switches, such as signal relays, triac devices,transistor devices (e.g., a BJT, a MOSFET, etc.), and/or any other typeof switching mechanism or device.

The A/V series signal relay 124 may be driven by a modulation component628 to perform various modulation techniques for AC current waveformsdescribed herein, such as the techniques of FIGS. 1 and 2A-2E. Forinstance, the modulation component 628 may use control signals to causethe A/V series signal relay 124 to open and close according toinformation and/or an instruction that the AC current waveform is toconvey to the signaling-control device 120. For instance, the modulationcomponent 628 may cause the A/V series signal relay 124 to open andclose according to various predefined sequences, and using varioustiming parameters, to modulate the AC current waveforms as describedherein. For example, in certain geographic areas, the AC power source116 may provide power at a frequency of 60 Hz, or 60 cycles per second.Thus, single period of an AC current waveform is approximately 1/60, or1.67 milliseconds (ms). Thus, to modulate a positive cycle of the ACcurrent waveform, the modulation component 628 may cause the A/V seriessignal relay 124 to open for approximately 0.835 ms for a 180-degreephase modulation. To modulate a 90-degree phase of the AC currentwaveform (e.g., FIGS. 2E and 2F), the modulation component 628 may causethe A/V series signal relay 124 to open and/or close for approximately0.417 ms.

The A/V device 410 may further include one or more device identifiers630 which indicate device IDs for various signaling-control components120. For example, the A/V current detect 138 may detect modulations ofthe AC current waveform performed by the signaling-control device 120,and write the modulations as bits to memory. The bits may, in someexamples, represent device identifiers 630 for the signaling-controldevice 120. Further, the A/V device 410 may include the A/V controllogic 126. In various examples, the A/V control logic 126 may drive theA/V series signal relay 124 and/or the A/V shunt signal relay 301according to the techniques described herein.

FIG. 7 illustrates a functional block diagram illustrating one exampleembodiment of a signaling-control device 120 according to variousaspects of the present disclosure. The signaling-control device 120 mayinclude one or more processors 702 to power and/or perform the variousfunctions described herein of the signaling-control device 120. Theprocessor(s) 702 (alternatively referred to herein as a “CPU,” a“controller,” and/or a “microcontroller) may comprise an integratedcircuit including a processor core, memory, and programmableinput/output peripherals. The signaling-control device 120 may includethe signaling device current-sense resistor 128, the shunt 122, and thesignaling device signal relay 132. Generally, the signaling devicecurrent-sense resistor 128 may be used to detect current based onchanges in voltage across the signaling device current-sense resistor128. The shunt 122 may be opened and closed to selectively activate thesignaling device 114. The signaling device signal relay 132 may beselectively opened and closed to modulate AC current waveforms that flowthrough the doorbell circuit 112.

The signaling-control device 120 may further include memory 704, whichmay represent volatile memory and/or non-volatile memory. The memory 704may store a modulation component 706 configured to perform similaroperations as the modulation component 628 to communicate data and/orinstructions to the A/V device 106. For example, the modulationcomponent 706 may drive the signaling device signal relay 132 tomodulate an AC current waveform to represent a device identifier 630 ofthe signaling-control device 120. Further, the signaling-control device120 may include the signaling-control logic 134 described above withreference to FIG. 1.

Each of the processes described herein, including the processes 800,900, 1000, 1100, 1200, 1300, 1400, and 1500 are illustrated as acollection of blocks in a logical flow graph, which represent a sequenceof operations that may be implemented in hardware, software, or acombination thereof. In the context of software, the blocks representcomputer-executable instructions stored on one or more computer-readablestorage media that, when executed by one or more processors, perform therecited operations. Generally, computer-executable instructions includeroutines, programs, objects, components, data structures, and the likethat perform particular functions or implement particular abstract datatypes. The order in which the operations are described is not intendedto be construed as a limitation, and any number of the described blocksmay be combined in any order and/or in parallel to implement theprocesses. Additionally, any number of the described blocks may beoptional and eliminated to implement the processes. In some examples,some or all of the steps performed in processes 800, 900, 1000, 1100,1200, 1300, 1400, and 1500 that are performed by the A/V device 410and/or the signaling-control device 120 may be implemented as software,firmware, hardware, and/or any combination thereof. For instances, oneor more control components comprising logic may perform the operationsof the processes and may comprise one of, or any combination of,hardware, software, and/or firmware.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an example process 800 forcommunicating between devices in a doorbell system by modulating phaseportions of an AC current waveform. In some examples, the process 800may be performed by a doorbell system (e.g., doorbell system 102) thatincludes a signaling device (e.g., signaling device 114, potentially incombination with signaling device 114) and an audio/video (A/V)recording and communication device (e.g., A/V device 106) configured tobe connected in series in the doorbell circuit 112 with the signalingdevice 114. In various examples, the A/V device 106 may include a button(e.g., button 506) to receive input to cause the signaling device 114 tooutput a sound, one or more processors 510, a signal relay (e.g., A/Vseries signal relay 124) configured to perform current switching forcontrolling alternating current (AC) current that is drawn by the A/Vrecording and communication device 106. In some examples, the signalrelay may be selectively configurable to close a connection such thatthe AC current is drawn by the A/V recording and communication device106 and to open the connection such that the AC current is not drawn bythe A/V recording and communication device 106.

The process 800, at block B802 includes causing the signal relay toclose the connection such that AC current is drawn by the A/V recordingand communication device. For example, the A/V device 106 may cause theA/V series signal relay 124 to close the connection in the doorbellcircuit 112 such that AC current is drawn by the A/V device 106 from theAC power source 116.

The process 800, at block B804, includes detecting an input to a buttonof the A/V recording and communication device. For example, the A/Vdevice 106 may detect an input (e.g., press, touch, near-touch, etc.) tothe button 506 from a user 110.

The process 800, at block B806, includes causing the signal relay toopen the connection for a first period of time such that the AC currentis not drawn by the A/V recording and communication device resulting inmodulation of a first portion of the AC current during the first periodof time. For example, the A/V device 106 may, based at least in part onthe input to the button, cause the A/V series signal relay 124 to openthe connection for a first period of time such that the AC current isnot drawn by the A/V device 106 resulting in modulation of a firstportion of the AC current during the first period of time (e.g., apositive and/or negative portion of the AC current to indicate a “0”).

The process 800, at block B808, includes causing the signal relay toclose the connection such that the AC current continues to be drawn bythe A/V recording and communication device. For example, the A/V device106 may, subsequent to the first period of time (e.g., phase portionindicating a “0”) cause the A/V series signal relay 124 to close theconnection such that the AC current continues to be drawn by the A/Vdevice 106. In some examples, the modulation of the AC current withinthe first period of time causes the signaling device 114 to output thesound (e.g., cause the signaling device 114 to emit sound).

The process 800, at block B810, includes detecting a removal of theinput to the button. For example, the A/V device 106 may detect that theuser 110 has removed input to the button 506.

The process 800, at block B812, includes causing the signal relay toopen the connection for a second period of time such that the AC currentis not drawn by the A/V recording and communication device resulting inmodulation of a second portion of the AC current during the secondperiod of time. For example, the A/V device 106 may, based at least inpart on the removal of the input to the button 506, cause the A/V seriessignal relay 124 to open the connection for a second period of time suchthat the AC current is not drawn by the A/V device 106 resulting inmodulation of a second portion of the AC current during the secondperiod of time.

The process 800, at block B814, may include causing the signal relay toopen the connection for a third period of time such that the AC currentis not drawn by the A/V recording and communication device resulting inmodulation of a third portion of the AC current during the third periodof time. For example, the A/V device 106 may cause the A/V series signalrelay 124 to open the connection for a third period of time such thatthe AC current is not drawn by the A/V device 106 resulting inmodulation of a third portion of the AC current during the third periodof time. In some examples, the modulation of the second portion of theAC current followed by the modulation of the third portion of the ACcurrent indicates to the signaling device 114 to stop outputting thesound.

The process 800, at block B816, includes causing the signal relay toclose the connection such that the AC current is drawn by the A/Vrecording and communication device. For example, subsequent to the thirdperiod of time, the A/V device 106 may cause the A/V series signal relay124 to close the connection such that the AC current is drawn by the A/Vdevice 106.

In some examples, the process 800 may result in the A/V devicemodulating the AC current to generate or result in an AC currentwaveform 204 similar to that shown in FIG. 2B.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an example process 900 for an A/Vrecording and communication device (e.g., A/V device 106) to communicatewith a doorbell circuit device (e.g., signaling-control device 120) thatit is connected in series with in a doorbell circuit 112. In someexamples, the A/V recording and communication device includes one ormore processors (e.g., processors 510), and a switch (e.g., A/V seriessignal relay 124) configured to perform current switching forcontrolling alternating current (AC) current that is drawn by the A/Vrecording and communication device. The switch may be selectivelyoperable to close such that the AC current is drawn by the A/V recordingand communication device and to open such that the AC current is notdrawn by the A/V recording and communication device.

The process 900, at block B902, includes receiving an instruction forcommunicating to the doorbell circuit device. For example, the A/Vdevice 106 may receive an instruction signal comprising datarepresentative of an instruction for communication to thesignaling-control device 120. In some examples, the A/V device 106 mayinclude a button 506. In such examples, receiving the instruction signalmay include detecting an input to, or press of, the button 506.

The process 900, at block B904, includes determining, based at least inpart on the instruction, a control signal to control the switch to causethe switch to close and open. For example, the A/V device 106 maydetermine, based at least in part on the instruction signal, a controlsignal to control the A/V series signal relay 124 to perform the currentswitching. In some examples, the control signal may be determined basedat least in part on detecting input to the button 506. For example, theA/V device 106 may determine a control signal to drive the A/V seriessignal relay 124 such that the modulation of the AC current results inthe AC current waveform 204, or another waveform configured to cause thesignaling-control device 120 to activate the signaling device 114.

The process 900, at block B906, includes sending the control signalresulting in modulation of a portion of the AC current, the modulationof the portion of the AC current representative of the instruction tothe doorbell circuit device. For example, the A/V device 106 may causethe A/V series signal relay 124 to perform the current switching forcontrolling the AC current according to the control signal resulting inmodulation of a portion of the AC current to be representative of theinstruction signal for communication to the signaling-control device120. In some examples, causing the A/V series signal relay 124 toperform the current switching for controlling the AC current accordingto the control signal resulting in the modulation of the portion of theAC current to be representative of the instruction signal forcommunication to the doorbell circuit device comprises causing the A/Vseries signal relay 124 to switch between opened and closed multipletimes according to a sequence resulting in a corresponding sequence ofmodulations of multiple portions of the AC current. For instance, theA/V series signal relay 124 may be switched between opened and closedaccording to a sequence to result in a corresponding sequence ofmodulations of the multiple portions of the AC current that indicates,to the signaling-control device 120, the instruction signal that thesignaling-control device 120 provide a device identifier 630 to the A/Vdevice 106. As an example, the A/V series signal relay 124 may be openedand closed according to a sequence to modulate the AC current waveformto result in an AC current waveform 206 illustrated in FIG. 2C, orsimilar types of waveforms to communicate data.

In some examples, causing the A/V series signal relay 124 to perform thecurrent switching for controlling the AC current according to thecontrol signal resulting in modulation of the portion of the AC currentcomprises causing the A/V series signal relay 124 to close theconnection for a first period of time such that an initial portion(e.g., 90 degrees) of the AC current is drawn by the A/V device 106. Insome examples, the initial portion of the AC current is included in apositive signal amplitude of a signal period of the AC current (e.g., 90degrees of the positive phase portion). Further, causing the A/V seriessignal relay 124 to perform the current switching for controlling the ACcurrent according to the control signal resulting in modulation of theportion of the AC current may further comprise, subsequent to the firstperiod of time, causing the A/V series signal relay 124 to open theconnection for a second period of time such that the AC current is notdrawn by the A/V device 106 resulting in the modulation of the portionof the AC current. In some examples, the portion of the AC current isincluded in the positive signal amplitude of the signal period of the ACcurrent (e.g., the second 90 degrees of the positive signal amplitude.Stated otherwise, in some examples, the A/V series signal relay 124 maybe driven by the A/V device 106 to create the AC current waveform 218,or similar waveform, where a positive phase and/or a negative phaserepresents at least two bits.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example process 1000 for adoorbell circuit device to receive a communication of data in an ACcurrent waveform from an A/V recording and communication deviceaccording to various aspects of the present disclosure. The doorbellcircuit device (e.g., signaling-control device 120) may be configuredfor coupling to a signaling device (e.g., signaling device 114) in adoorbell circuit (e.g., doorbell circuit 112). The doorbell circuitdevice may be configured to be series with an audio/video (A/V)recording and communication device (e.g., A/V device 106) and compriseone or more processors (e.g., processors 702), a current sense resistor(e.g., signaling device current-sense resistor 128) configured to detectchanges in alternating current (AC) current delivered from an AC powersource and through the doorbell circuit device, and control circuitry(e.g., shunt 122) configured to deliver AC current to the signalingdevice in order to cause the signaling device to emit a sound, and tobypass AC current away from the signaling device in order to prevent thesignaling device from emitting the sound.

The process 1000, at block B1002, includes detecting, at least partly bythe current sense resistor, a modulation of a first portion of the ACcurrent drawn by the A/V recording and communication device. Forexample, the signaling-control device 120 may detect, at least partly bythe signaling device current-sense resistor 128, a modulation of a firstportion of the AC current drawn by the A/V device 106.

The process 1000, at block B1004, includes detecting, at least partly bythe current sense resistor, a second portion of the AC current drawn bythe doorbell circuit device that is not modulated. For example,subsequent to detecting the modulation of the first portion, thesignaling-control device 120 may detect, at least partly by thesignaling device current-sense resistor 128, a second portion of the ACcurrent drawn by the doorbell circuit device that is not modulated.

The process 1000, at block B1006, includes causing the control circuitryto deliver AC current to the signaling device to cause the signalingdevice to output a sound. For example, the signaling-control device 120may cause the shunt 122 to deliver AC current to the signaling device114 to cause the signaling device 114 (e.g., via the signaling device114) to output a sound. In some examples, the control circuitry, or theshunt 122, includes a shunt switch and is connected in parallel with thesignaling device 114, and causing the shunt 122 to deliver the ACcurrent to the signaling device 114 to cause the signaling device 114 tooutput the sound includes placing the shunt switch of the shunt 122 in ahigh impedance state such that a shunt impedance associated with theshunt switch of the shunt 122 is greater than a load impedanceassociated with the signaling device 114.

The process 1000, at block B1008, includes detecting, at least partly bythe current sense resistor, a modulation of a third portion of the ACcurrent delivered to the doorbell circuit device. For example, thesignaling-control device 120 may detect, at least partly by thesignaling device current-sense resistor 128, a modulation of a thirdportion of the AC current delivered to the signaling-control device 120.

The process 1000, at block B1010, includes detecting, at least partly bythe current sense resistor, a modulation of a fourth portion of the ACcurrent delivered to the doorbell circuit device. For example, thesignaling-control device 120 may detect, at least partly by thesignaling device current-sense resistor 128 a modulation of a fourthportion of the AC current delivered to the signaling-control device 120.

The process 1000, at block B1012, includes causing the control circuitryto bypass AC current away from the signaling device to cause thesignaling device to cease outputting the sound. For example, thesignaling-control device 120 may, based at least in part on themodulation of the third portion of the AC current followed by themodulation of the fourth portion of the AC current, cause the shunt 122to bypass AC current away from the signaling device 114 to cause thesignaling device 114 to cease outputting the sound via the signalingdevice 114.

In some examples, the modulations of the AC current waveform describedin the process 1000 may be similar to the AC current waveform 204 ofFIG. 2B.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an example process 1100 for adoorbell circuit device to receive a communication of data in an ACcurrent waveform from an A/V recording and communication deviceaccording to various aspects of the present disclosure. The doorbellcircuit device (e.g., signaling-control device 120) may be configuredfor coupling to a signaling device (e.g., signaling device 114) in acircuit (e.g., doorbell circuit 112). The doorbell circuit device may beconfigured to be series with an audio/video (A/V) recording andcommunication device (e.g., A/V device 106) and comprise one or moreprocessors (e.g., processors 702), and control circuitry (e.g., shunt122) for controlling alternating current (AC) current that is drawn bythe signaling device, the control circuitry comprising an open state inwhich AC current is delivered to the signaling device and a closed statein which the AC current is not drawn by the signaling device.

The process 1100, at block B1102, includes causing the control circuitryto enter the closed state such that AC current is not drawn by thesignaling device. For example, the signaling-control device 120 maycause the shunt 122 to enter the closed state such that AC current isnot drawn by the signaling device 114.

The process 1100, at block B1104, includes identifying a modulation of aportion of the AC current. In some examples, the signaling-controldevice 120 may include a signaling device current-sense resistor 128configured to detect changes in the AC current delivered from an ACpower source 116 and through the signaling-control device 120. In suchexamples, identifying the modulation of the portion of the AC currentcomprises detecting, at least partly by the signaling devicecurrent-sense resistor 128, the portion of the AC current drawn throughthe shunt 122.

The process 1100, at block B1106, includes causing the control circuitryto enter the open state such that the AC current is drawn by thesignaling device to cause the signaling device to output sound. Forexample, the signaling-control device 120 may cause the shunt 122 toenter the open state such that the AC current is drawn by the signalingdevice 114 to cause the signaling device 114 to output sound (e.g., viathe signaling device 114). In some examples, the portion of the ACcurrent comprises a first portion, and the process 1100 may furthercomprise detecting, at least partly by the signaling devicecurrent-sense resistor 128, a modulation of a second portion of the ACcurrent followed by a modulation of a third portion of the AC current,and based at least in part on the modulation of the second portion ofthe AC current followed by the modulation of the third portion of the ACcurrent, causing the shunt 122 to enter the closed state such that theAC current bypasses away from the signaling device 114 to cause thesignaling device 114 to cease outputting the sound.

In some examples, the signaling-control device 120 may further performoperations including identifying one or more first modulations of the ACcurrent representative of an instruction for communication to the A/Vrecording and communication device (e.g., detecting an AC currentwaveform similar to AC current waveform 206 and/or AC current waveform218), determining, based at least in part on the one or more firstmodulations of the AC current, a control signal to control the signalrelay to perform the current switching (e.g., determine a control signalto drive the signaling device signal relay 132), and causing thesignaling device signal relay 132 to perform the current switching forcontrolling the AC current according to the control signal resulting inone or more second modulations of the AC current to be representative ofthe instruction for communication to the A/V device 106 (e.g., cause thesignaling device signal relay 132 to create an AC current waveformsimilar to AC current waveform 210).

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating an example process 1200 for an A/Vrecording and communication device in a doorbell system to control theflow of AC current to a signaling device in order to cause the ACcurrent to bypass a signaling device, or to cause the AC current to flowthrough a signaling device and cause a signaling device to emit sound.

The process 1200, at block B1202, includes causing a first signal relayto close a first connection. For example, the A/V device 106 may causethe A/V series signal relay 124 to close the first connection. In someexamples, the first signal relay (e.g., the A/V series signal relay 124)may be configured to be disposed in series with the signaling device 114to perform current switching for controlling AC current that is providedby the AC power source 116. For instance, the first signal relay (e.g.,the A/V series signal relay 124) may be selectively configurable toclose a first connection such that the AC current is provided by the ACpower source 116 and to open the first connection such that the ACcurrent is not provided by the AC power source 116.

The process 1200, at block B1204, includes causing the second signalrelay to open the second connection such that the A/V recording andcommunication device draws a first amount of AC current through thefirst signal relay. For example, the A/V device may cause the A/V shuntsignal relay 301 to open the second connection such that the A/V device106 draws a first amount of AC current through the A/V series signalrelay 124. In some examples, the A/V shunt signal relay 301 may bedisposed in parallel with the A/V device 106 to perform currentswitching for controlling the AC current that is drawn by the A/V device106. For instance, the A/V shunt signal relay 301 may be selectivelyconfigurable to open a second connection such that the AC current isdrawn by the A/V device 106 through the A/V series signal relay 124 andto close the second connection such that that AC current passes throughthe A/V series signal relay 124 and the A/V shunt signal relay 301 tobypass the A/V device 106.

The process 1200, at block B1206, includes detecting a touch input of abutton. For example, the A/V device 106 may include a button 506 anddetect a touch input from a user 110.

The process 1200, at block B1208, includes causing the first signalrelay to open the first connection such that the doorbell circuit isopen, thereby preventing the first amount of AC current from being drawnby the A/V recording and communication device for a first period oftime. For example, the A/V device 106 may, based at least in part on thedetecting the touch input of the button 506, cause the A/V series signalrelay 124 to open the first connection such that the doorbell circuit112 is open, thereby preventing the first amount of AC current frombeing drawn by the A/V device 106 for a first period of time. In someexamples, preventing the first amount of AC current from being drawn bythe A/V device 106 indicates to the signaling device 114 (e.g., thesignaling-control device 120) to output the sound.

The process 1200, at block B1210, includes causing the first signalrelay to close the first connection such that the AC current is providedto the doorbell circuit by the AC power source. For example, the A/Vdevice 106 may, subsequent to the first period of time, cause the A/Vseries signal relay 124 to close the first connection such that the ACcurrent is provided to the doorbell circuit 112 by the AC power source116 (e.g., create a closed circuit 112).

The process 1200, at block B1212, includes causing the second signalrelay to close the second connection such that a second amount of ACcurrent that is drawn by the signaling device to output the soundbypasses the A/V recording and communication device by passing throughthe first signal relay and the second signal relay. For example, the A/Vdevice 106 may cause the A/V shunt signal relay 301 to close the secondconnection such that a second amount of AC current that is drawn by thesignaling device 114 to output the sound bypasses the A/V device 106 bypassing through the A/V series signal relay 124 and the A/V shunt signalrelay 301. In some examples, the A/V series signal relay 124 and the A/Vshunt signal relay 301 may be closed for a second period of time.

The process 1200, at block B1214, includes causing the first signalrelay to open the first connection for a third period of time. Forexample, the A/V device may cause the A/V series signal relay 124 toopen the first connection for a third period of time, thereby creatingan open circuit in the doorbell circuit 112.

The process 1200, at block B1216, includes causing the second signalrelay to open the second connection for the third period of time suchthat the doorbell circuit is open, thereby preventing the signalingdevice from drawing the second amount of AC current to output the sound.For example, the A/V device 106 may cause the A/V shunt signal relay 301to open the second connection for the third period of time such that thedoorbell circuit 112 is open, thereby preventing the signaling device114 from drawing the second amount of AC current to output the sound.

The process 1200, at block B1218, includes causing the first signalrelay to close the first connection such that the A/V recording andcommunication device draws a third amount of AC current through thefirst signal relay. For example, the A/V device 106 may cause the A/Vseries signal relay 124 to close the first connection such that the A/Vdevice 106 draws a third amount of AC current through the A/V seriessignal relay 124.

In some examples, the doorbell system 102 further includes a doorbellcircuit device (e.g., signaling-control device 120) configured forcoupling to the signaling device 114 and configured to be connected inseries with the A/V recording and communication device 106. Thesignaling-control device 120 may include one or more second processors702 and an electronic switch (e.g., shunt 122) configured to performcurrent switching for controlling AC current that is drawn by thesignaling device 114. The shunt 122 may be selectively configurable toopen a third connection such that the AC current is drawn by thesignaling device 114 and to close the third connection such that the ACcurrent bypasses the signaling device and is drawn by the A/V device106. In such examples, the signaling-control device 120 may detect thatthe first amount of AC current was prevented from being drawn by the A/Vrecording and communication device 106, and based at least in part onthe first amount of AC current being prevented from being drawn, causethe shunt 122 to open the third connection such that the AC current isdrawn by the signaling device 114 to output the sound at least partlyduring the second period of time.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating an example process 1300 for an A/Vrecording and communication device to control the flow of AC current toa signaling device in order to cause the AC current to bypass asignaling device, or to cause the AC current to flow through a signalingdevice and cause a signaling device to emit sound.

The process 1300, at block B1302, includes causing a first switch toclose. For example, the A/V device 106 may cause the A/V series signalrelay 124 to close. In some examples, the A/V series signal relay 124may be configured to perform current switching for controllingalternating current (AC) current that is drawn by the A/V device 106.For instance, the A/V series signal relay 124 may be selectivelyconfigurable to close such that the AC current is drawn by the A/Vdevice 106 and to open such that the AC current is not drawn by the A/Vdevice 106.

The process 1300, at block B1304, includes causing the second switch toopen such that the A/V recording and communication device draws a firstamount of AC current through the first signal relay. For example, theA/V device may cause the A/V shunt signal relay 301 to open such thatthe A/V device 106 draws a first amount of AC current through the A/Vseries signal relay 124.

The process 1300, at block B1306, includes detecting a press of abutton. For example, the A/V device 106 may detect an input to thebutton 506.

The process 1300, at block B1308, includes causing the first switch toopen such that the A/V recording and communication device is preventedfrom drawing the first amount of AC current for a period of time. Forexample, the A/V device 106 may cause the A/V series signal relay 124 toopen to create an open doorbell circuit 112 such that the A/V device 106is prevented from drawing the first amount of AC current for a period oftime.

The process 1300, at block B1310, includes causing the first switch toclose. For example, the A/V device 106 may cause the A/V series signalrelay 124 to close, thereby creating a closed doorbell circuit 112.

The process 1300, at block B1312, includes causing the second switch toclose such that a second amount of AC current that is drawn by thesignaling device to output a sound bypasses the A/V recording andcommunication device. For example, the A/V device 106 may cause the A/Vshunt signal relay 301 to close such that a second amount of AC currentthat is drawn by the signaling device 114 to output a sound bypasses theA/V device 106. In this way, the signaling device 114 may draw theentire amount of power that it is rated for with little or no impedanceinterference from the A/V device 106

FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating an example process 1400 for adoorbell circuit device configured for coupling to a signaling device ina doorbell circuit to selectively cause AC current to bypass thesignaling device, or cause the AC current to flow through the signalingdevice and cause a signaling device to emit sound.

The process 1400, at block B1402, includes causing an electronic switchto close the connection such that a first amount of AC current bypassesthe signaling device and is drawn by the A/V recording and communicationdevice. For example, the signaling-control device 120 may cause theshunt 122 to close the connection such that a first amount of AC currentbypasses the signaling device 114 and is drawn by the A/V recording andcommunication device 106.

The process 1400, at block B1404, includes detecting, at least partly bythe current sense resistor, that the doorbell circuit is in anopen-circuit state at a first time. For example, the signaling-controldevice 120 may detect, at least partly by the signaling devicecurrent-sense resistor 128, that the doorbell circuit 112 is in anopen-circuit state at a first time.

The process 1400, at block B1406, includes detecting, at least partly bythe current sense resistor, that the doorbell circuit is in aclosed-circuit state at a second time that is after the first time. Forexample, the signaling-control device 120 may detect, at least partly bythe signaling device current-sense resistor 128, that the doorbellcircuit 112 is in a closed-circuit state at a second time that is afterthe first time.

The process 1400, at block B1408, includes causing the electronic switchto open the connection such that a second amount of AC current is drawnby the signaling device in order to cause the signaling device to outputsound. For example, the signaling-control device 120 may, based at leastin part on the doorbell circuit 112 being in the open-circuit state atthe first time and the doorbell circuit 112 being in the closed-circuitstate at the second time, cause the shunt 122 to open the connectionsuch that a second amount of AC current is drawn by the signaling device114 in order to cause the signaling device 114 to output sound via thesignaling device 114.

The process 1400, at block B1410, includes detecting, at least partly bythe current sense resistor, that the doorbell circuit is in theopen-circuit state at a third time. For example, the signaling-controldevice 106 may detect, at least partly using the signaling devicecurrent-sense resistor 128, that the doorbell circuit 112 is in theopen-circuit state at a third time.

The process 1400, at block B1412, includes causing the electronic switchto close the connection such that a third amount of AC current bypassesthe signaling device and is drawn by the A/V recording and communicationdevice. For example, the signaling-control device 120 may, based atleast in part on the doorbell circuit 112 being in the open-circuitstate at the third time, cause the shunt 122 to close the connectionsuch that a third amount of AC current bypasses the signaling device 114and is drawn by the A/V device 106.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating an example process 1500 for adoorbell circuit device configured for coupling to a signaling device ina doorbell circuit to selectively cause AC current to bypass thesignaling device, or cause the AC current to flow through the signalingdevice and cause a signaling device to emit sound.

The process 1500, at block B1502, includes causing an electrical switchto close such that a first amount of AC current bypasses the signalingdevice. For example, the signaling-control device 120 may cause theshunt 122 to close such that a first amount of AC current bypasses thesignaling device 114.

The process 1500, at block B1504, includes identifying that the doorbellcircuit changes from a closed-circuit state to an open-circuit state.For example, the signaling-control device 120 may identify that thedoorbell circuit 112 changes from a closed-circuit state to anopen-circuit state.

The process 1500, at block B1506, includes causing the electronic switchto open such that a second amount of AC current is drawn by thesignaling device. For example, the signaling-control device 120 maycause the shunt 122 to open such that a second amount of AC current isdrawn by the signaling device 114.

The process 1500, at block B1508, includes causing the signaling deviceto output a sound. For example, the second amount of AC current that isdrawn by the signaling device 114 may cause the signaling device 114 toemit a sound.

FIG. 16 is a signal diagram of a process 1600 for streaming and storingA/V content from the A/V device 410 according to various aspects of thepresent disclosure. The network device 1602 may include one or more ofthe hub device 402, the VA device 408, and/or any of the components ofthe network(s) of servers/backend devices 420 (e.g., the backend server424, the backend API 426, the storage devices 422, etc.).

The process 1600, at block B1604, detects an object in a field of viewof a camera and/or a field of view of a motion sensor. For example, theA/V device 410 may detect the presence of an object within a field ofview of view of the motion sensor(s) 526 (e.g., a motion sensor field ofview) and/or a field of view of the camera 514 (e.g., a camera field ofview). To detect motion using the motion sensor(s) 526, the data type(e.g., voltage for PIR sensors) from the output signal of the motionsensor(s) 526 may be analyzed, by the processor(s) 510 of the A/V device410, to determine whether the output signal is indicative of motion ofan object that should prompt the recording of the image data 606 and/oraudio data 608 at block B1606 and signal S1608. To detect motion usingthe camera 514, the processor(s) 510 of the A/V device 410 may analyzethe image data 606 by performing, for example, a frame by framecomparison of a change in pixels, to determine whether the image data606 is indicative of motion of an object that should prompt therecording and transmission of image data 606 and/or audio data 608 atblock B1606 and signal S1608.

The process 1600, at block B1606, records video data and/or audio data.For example, the processor(s) 510 of the A/V device 410 may cause thecamera 514 to begin generating the image data 606 and/or themicrophone(s) 528 to being recording the audio data 608.

The process 1600, at signal S1608, transmits the video data and/or theaudio data to a network device 1602. For example, the processor(s) 510of the A/V device 410, using the network interface 512, may transmit theimage data 606 and/or the audio data 608 to the network device 1602. Inresponse, the network device 1602 may receive, by respectiveprocessor(s) and using respective communication module(s), the imagedata 606 and/or the audio data 608. In some embodiments, the image data606 and/or the audio data 608 is transmitted to the hub device 402and/or the VA device 408, and the hub device 402 and/or the VA device408 may transmit (or forward) the image data 606 and/or the audio data608 to one or more components of the network(s) of servers/backenddevices 420. In either embodiment, the network device 1602 may transmitthe image data 606 and/or the audio data 608 to a client device(s) 414,416. In other embodiments, the image data 606 and/or the audio data 608may be transmitted to the hub device 402 and/or the VA device 408, andthe hub device 402 and/or the VA device 408 may transmit (or forward)the image data 606 and/or the audio data 608 to the client device(s)414, 416. Still, in some embodiments, the image data 606 and/or theaudio data 608 may be transmitted directly to the client device(s) 414,416 from the A/V device 410.

The process 1600, at block B1610, stores the video data and/or the audiodata. For example, the network device 1602 may store the image data 606and/or the audio data 608. The image data 606 and/or the audio data 608may be stored for future access by the user(s) of the A/V device 410(e.g., as Cloud storage). In some embodiments, the A/V device 410 maystore the image data 606 and/or the audio data 608 locally (e.g., in thememory 402). In some embodiments, the image data 606 and/or the audiodata 608 may not be stored, except during buffering, compression, and/orlive (or near-live) streaming of the image data 606 and/or the audiodata 608 to the client device(s) 414, 416. In such embodiments, at theconclusion of a motion event (e.g., when an object is no longer in thecamera field of view and/or the motion sensor field of view), the videodata and/or the audio data may be deleted from the network device 1602.

The process 1600, at signal S1612, transmits a user alert to the clientdevice. For example, the network device 1602 may transmit, by therespective processor(s) and using the respective communicationmodule(s), a notification 616 to the client device(s) 414, 416. In someembodiments, the notification 616 may be generated and transmitted, bythe processor(s) 510 and using the network interface 512, directly tothe client device(s) 414, 416 from the A/V device 410. The notification616 may be a notification (e.g., a push notification, a message, (e.g.,a short-message-service (SMS) message), an email, a phone call, asignal, and/or another type of user alert. The notification 616 may beconfigured to provide a user of the client device(s) 414, 416 with anindication that an object is present at the A/V device 410. In someembodiments, the notification 616 may be informative as to the type ofmotion detected and/or object present at the A/V device 410. Forexample, if a person, an animal, a parcel, or a vehicle is present, thenotification 616 may include an indication of such. As another example,if the person and/or animal detected are known to be dangerous and/orare acting suspicious (as determined using computer vision processing,image processing, behavioral analysis, third party source(s), etc.), thenotification 616 may include an indication of such.

The process 1600, at signal S1614, transmits an acceptance or denial ofthe user alert. For example, the client device(s) 414, 416 may transmit,by the processor(s) 802 and using the network interface 810, anacceptance or denial of the notification 616. In various embodiments,acceptance of the notification 616 includes an acknowledgement ofreceipt of the notification 616 from the client device(s) 414, 416. Inyet other embodiments, the acceptance includes the user interacting with(e.g., selecting through a user interface a user interface element of amodal window displayed by a display device the client device(s) 414,416) the notification 616. Furthermore, denial of the notification 616may include a variety of different actions and/or information. In oneexample, a denial includes a failure of the client device(s) 414, 416 toprovide a response to the notification 616 within an interval of time.In yet another example, the denial includes the user interacting withthe notification 616 by at least selecting an “ignore” user interfaceelement of a GUI of the client device(s) 414, 416. In response, the hubdevice 402, the VA device 408, and/or one or more components of thenetwork(s) of servers/backend devices 420 may receive, by the respectiveprocessors and using the respective communication modules, theacceptance or denial of the notification 616 from the client device(s)414, 416.

The process 1600, at block B1616, determines whether the user alert wasaccepted or denied. For example, the network device 1602 may determine,by the respective processors, whether the notification 616 was acceptedor denied. In some embodiments, the processor(s) 510 of the A/V device410, using the network interface 512, may determine whether thenotification 616 was accepted or denied (e.g., in embodiments where theA/V device 410 and the client device(s) 414, 416 communicate directly).When the notification 616 is denied, the process 1600 may end, oranother transmission type of the user alert may be generated (e.g., if auser denies a push notification, an SMS message may be transmitted).When the notification 616 is accepted, the image data 606 and/or theaudio data 608 may be transmitted to the client device(s) 414, 416 thataccepted the notification 616.

The process 1600, at signal S1618, transmits the video data and/or theaudio data to the client device(s) 414, 416. For example, network device1602, by the respective processor(s) and using the respectivecommunication module(s), may transmit the image data 606 and/or theaudio data 608 to the client device(s) 414, 416. In response, the clientdevice(s) 414, 416, by the processor(s) 802 and using the networkinterface 810, may receive the image data 606 and/or the audio data 608.In some embodiments, the image data 606 and/or the audio data 608 may betransmitted by the processor(s) 510 of the A/V device 410, using thenetwork interface 512, directly to the client device(s) 414, 416.

The process 1600, at block B1620, displays the video data and/or outputsthe audio data. For example, the processor(s) of the client device(s)414, 416 may cause display, on the display 818 of the client device(s)414, 416, the image data 606 and/or may cause output, by the speaker(s)708 of the client device(s) 414, 416, the audio data 608. In addition todisplaying the image data 606 and/or outputting the audio data 608, aGUI may be displayed on the client device(s) 414, 416 that may allow auser of the client device(s) 414, 416 to perform one more actions. Theone or more actions may include outputting a siren, or alarm, byselecting a siren/alarm icon, changing camera settings (e.g., move, pan,tilt, zoom, brightness, contrast, etc.) by selecting one or more camerasettings icons, activating one or more modes by selecting a modeactivation icon (e.g., for activating a parcel protection mode formonitoring a package in the camera field of view), arming or disarming asecurity system by selecting an arm/disarm icon, unlocking a door byselecting a door lock icon, etc. In some embodiments, the GUI mayfurther include a talk icon for initiating a two-way communicationsession between the client device(s) 414, 416 and the A/V device 410, asdescribed below with respect to block B1622.

The process 1600, at block B1622, initiates a two-way communication withthe A/V device. For example, the processor(s) 802 of the clientdevice(s) 414, 416, using the network interface 810, may initiate atwo-way communication session with the A/V device 410. In response, theA/V device 410 and/or the network device 1602 may receive the two-waycommunication request from the client device(s) 414, 416. Once thetwo-way communication session is established, the voice/sound input atthe client device(s) 414, 416, as captured by the microphone(s) 706 ofthe client device(s) 414, 416, may be transmitted as audio data to theA/V device 410 for output by the speaker(s) 530. Additionally, thevoice/sound input at the A/V device 410, as captured by themicrophone(s) 528 of the A/V device 410, may be transmitted as audiodata 608 to the client device 414, 416 for output by the speaker(s) 808of the client device(s) 414, 416.

FIG. 17 is a signal diagram of a process 1700 for initiating avideo-on-demand session for A/V content from an A/V device 410 accordingto various aspects of the present disclosure. The network device 1702may include one or more of the hub device 402, the VA device 408, and/orany of the components of the network(s) of servers/backend devices 420(e.g., the backend server 424, the backend API 426, the storage devices422, etc.).

The process 1700, at block B1702, receives a live view request. Forexample, processor(s) of the client device 414, 416 may receive a liveview request from a user of the client device 414, 416. The live viewrequest may include an input to user interface (e.g., a display, such aswithin a GUI on a display, one or more physical buttons of the clientdevice 414, 416, etc.).

The process 1700, at signal B1704, transmits a live view request. Forexample, the live request may be transmitted, by processor(s) and usinga communication module of the client device 414, 416, to the networkdevice 1702. In response, network device 1702 may receive, by therespective processor(s) and using the respective communicationmodule(s), the live view request. In some embodiments, the live viewrequest may be transmitted directly to the A/V device 410 from theclient device 414, 416.

The process 1700, at signal S1706, transmits the live request. Forexample, network device 1702 may transmit (or forward), by therespective processor(s) and using the respective communicationmodule(s), the live view request to the A/V device 410. In response, theprocessor(s) 510 of the A/V device 410, using the network interface 512,may receive the live view request.

The process 1700, at block B1708, captures video data and/or audio data.For example, in response to receiving the live view request, theprocessor(s) 510 of the A/V device 410 may cause the camera 514 torecord the image data 606 and/or the microphone(s) 528 to record theaudio data 608.

The process 1700, at signal S1710, transmits the video data and/or theaudio data. This process may be similar to that of signal S1608 of theprocess 1600, described above.

The process 1700, at block B1712, stores the video data and/or the audiodata. This process may be similar to that of block B1610 of the process1600, described above.

The process 1700, at block S1714, transmits the video data and/or theaudio data to the client device. This process may be similar to that ofsignal S1618 of the process 1600, described above.

The process 1700, at block B1716, displays the video data and/or outputsthe audio data. This process may be similar to that of block B1620 ofthe process 1600, described above.

The process 1700, at block B1718, initiates two-way communication withthe A/V device 410. This process may be similar to that of block B1622of the process 1600, described above.

FIG. 18 is a functional block diagram of a client device 1802 on whichthe present embodiments may be implemented according to various aspectsof the present disclosure. The client device(s) 414, 416 described withreference to FIG. 4 may include some or all of the components and/orfunctionality of the client device 1802. The client device 1802 maycomprise, for example, a smartphone.

With reference to FIG. 18, the client device 1802 includes a processor1804, a memory 1806, a user interface 1808, a communication module 1810,and a dataport 1812. These components are communicatively coupledtogether by an interconnect bus 1814. The processor 1804 may include anyprocessor used in smartphones and/or portable computing devices, such asan ARM processor (a processor based on the RISC (reduced instruction setcomputer) architecture developed by Advanced RISC Machines (ARM).). Insome embodiments, the processor 1804 may include one or more otherprocessors, such as one or more conventional microprocessors, and/or oneor more supplementary co-processors, such as math co-processors.

The memory 1806 may include both operating memory, such as random-accessmemory (RAM), as well as data storage, such as read-only memory (ROM),hard drives, flash memory, or any other suitable memory/storage element.The memory 1806 may include removable memory elements, such as aCompactFlash card, a MultiMediaCard (MMC), and/or a Secure Digital (SD)card. In some embodiments, the memory 1806 may comprise a combination ofmagnetic, optical, and/or semiconductor memory, and may include, forexample, RAM, ROM, flash drive, and/or a hard disk or drive. Theprocessor 1804 and the memory 1806 each may be, for example, locatedentirely within a single device, or may be connected to each other by acommunication medium, such as a USB port, a serial port cable, a coaxialcable, an Ethernet-type cable, a telephone line, a radio frequencytransceiver, or other similar wireless or wired medium or combination ofthe foregoing. For example, the processor 1804 may be connected to thememory 1806 via the dataport 1812.

The user interface 1808 may include any user interface or presentationelements suitable for a smartphone and/or a portable computing device,such as a keypad, a display screen, a touchscreen, a microphone, and aspeaker. The communication module 1810 is configured to handlecommunication links between the client device 1802 and other, externaldevices or receivers, and to route incoming/outgoing data appropriately.For example, inbound data from the dataport 1812 may be routed throughthe communication module 1810 before being directed to the processor1804, and outbound data from the processor 1804 may be routed throughthe communication module 1810 before being directed to the dataport1812. The communication module 1810 may include one or more transceivermodules capable of transmitting and receiving data, and using, forexample, one or more protocols and/or technologies, such as GSM, UMTS(3GSM), IS-95 (CDMA one), IS-2000 (CDMA 2000), LTE, FDMA, TDMA, W-CDMA,CDMA, OFDMA, Wi-Fi, WiMAX, or any other protocol and/or technology.

The dataport 1812 may be any type of connector used for physicallyinterfacing with a smartphone and/or a portable computing device, suchas a mini-USB port or an IPHONE®/IPOD® 30-pin connector or LIGHTNING®connector. In other embodiments, the dataport 1812 may include multiplecommunication channels for simultaneous communication with, for example,other processors, servers, and/or client terminals.

The memory 1806 may store instructions for communicating with othersystems, such as a computer. The memory 1806 may store, for example, aprogram (e.g., computer program code) adapted to direct the processor1804 in accordance with the present embodiments. The instructions alsomay include program elements, such as an operating system. Whileexecution of sequences of instructions in the program causes theprocessor 1804 to perform the process steps described herein, hard-wiredcircuitry may be used in place of, or in combination with,software/firmware instructions for implementation of the processes ofthe present embodiments. Thus, the present embodiments are not limitedto any specific combination of hardware and software.

FIG. 19 is a functional block diagram of a general-purpose computingsystem on which the present embodiments may be implemented according tovarious aspects of the present disclosure. The computer system 1902 maybe embodied in at least one of a personal computer (also referred to asa desktop computer) 1904, a portable computer (also referred to as alaptop or notebook computer) 1906, and/or a server 1908 is a computerprogram and/or a machine that waits for requests from other machines orsoftware (clients) and responds to them. A server typically processesdata. The purpose of a server is to share data and/or hardware and/orsoftware resources among clients. This architecture is called theclient-server model. The clients may run on the same computer or mayconnect to the server over a network. Examples of computing serversinclude database servers, file servers, mail servers, print servers, webservers, game servers, and application servers. The term server may beconstrued broadly to include any computerized process that shares aresource to one or more client processes.

The computer system 1902 may execute at least some of the operationsdescribed above. The computer system 1902 may include at least oneprocessor 1910, memory 1912, at least one storage device 1914, andinput/output (I/O) devices 1916. Some or all of the components 1910,1912, 1914, 1916 may be interconnected via a system bus 1918. Theprocessor 1910 may be single- or multi-threaded and may have one or morecores. The processor 1910 execute instructions, such as those stored inthe memory 1912 and/or in the storage device 1914. Information may bereceived and output using one or more I/O devices 1916.

The memory 1912 may store information, and may be a computer-readablemedium, such as volatile or non-volatile memory. The storage device(s)1914 may provide storage for the system 1902 and, in some embodiments,may be a computer-readable medium. In various aspects, the storagedevice(s) 1914 may be a flash memory device, a hard disk device, anoptical disk device, a tape device, or any other type of storage device.

The I/O devices 1916 may provide input/output operations for the system1902. The I/O devices 1916 may include a keyboard, a pointing device,and/or a microphone. The I/O devices 1916 may further include a displayunit for displaying graphical user interfaces, a speaker, and/or aprinter. External data may be stored in one or more accessible externaldatabases 1920.

The features of the present embodiments described herein may beimplemented in digital electronic circuitry, and/or in computerhardware, firmware, software, and/or in combinations thereof. Featuresof the present embodiments may be implemented in a computer programproduct tangibly embodied in an information carrier, such as amachine-readable storage device, and/or in a propagated signal, forexecution by a programmable processor. Embodiments of the present methodsteps may be performed by a programmable processor executing a programof instructions to perform functions of the described implementations byoperating on input data and generating output.

The features of the present embodiments described herein may beimplemented in one or more computer programs that are executable on aprogrammable system including at least one programmable processorcoupled to receive data and/or instructions from, and to transmit dataand/or instructions to, a data storage system, at least one inputdevice, and at least one output device. A computer program may include aset of instructions that may be used, directly or indirectly, in acomputer to perform a certain activity or bring about a certain result.A computer program may be written in any form of programming language,including compiled or interpreted languages, and it may be deployed inany form, including as a stand-alone program or as a module, component,subroutine, or other unit suitable for use in a computing environment.

Suitable processors for the execution of a program of instructions mayinclude, for example, both general and special purpose processors,and/or the sole processor or one of multiple processors of any kind ofcomputer. Generally, a processor may receive instructions and/or datafrom a read only memory (ROM), or a random-access memory (RAM), or both.Such a computer may include a processor for executing instructions andone or more memories for storing instructions and/or data.

Generally, a computer may also include, or be operatively coupled tocommunicate with, one or more mass storage devices for storing datafiles. Such devices include magnetic disks, such as internal hard disksand/or removable disks, magneto-optical disks, and/or optical disks.Storage devices suitable for tangibly embodying computer programinstructions and/or data may include all forms of non-volatile memory,including for example semiconductor memory devices, such as EPROM,EEPROM, and flash memory devices, magnetic disks such as internal harddisks and removable disks, magneto-optical disks, and CD-ROM and DVD-ROMdisks. The processor and the memory may be supplemented by, orincorporated in, one or more ASICs (application-specific integratedcircuits).

To provide for interaction with a user, the features of the presentembodiments may be implemented on a computer having a display device,such as an LCD (liquid crystal display) monitor, for displayinginformation to the user. The computer may further include a keyboard, apointing device, such as a mouse or a trackball, and/or a touchscreen bywhich the user may provide input to the computer.

The features of the present embodiments may be implemented in a computersystem that includes a back-end component, such as a data server, and/orthat includes a middleware component, such as an application server oran Internet server, and/or that includes a front-end component, such asa client computer having a graphical user interface (GUI) and/or anInternet browser, or any combination of these. The components of thesystem may be connected by any form or medium of digital datacommunication, such as a communication network. Examples ofcommunication networks may include, for example, a LAN (local areanetwork), a WAN (wide area network), and/or the computers and networksforming the Internet.

The computer system may include clients and servers. A client and servermay be remote from each other and interact through a network, such asthose described herein. The relationship of client and server may ariseby virtue of computer programs running on the respective computers andhaving a client-server relationship to each other.

As used herein, the phrases “at least one of A, B and C,” “at least oneof A, B, or C,” and “A, B, and/or C” are synonymous and mean logical“OR” in the computer science sense. Thus, each of the foregoing phrasesshould be understood to read on (A), (B), (C), (A and B), (A and C), (Band C), and (A and B and C), where A, B, and C are variablesrepresenting elements or features of the claim. Also, while theseexamples are described with three variables (A, B, C) for ease ofunderstanding, the same interpretation applies to similar phrases inthese formats with any number of two or more variables.

The above description presents the best mode contemplated for carryingout the present embodiments, and of the manner and process of practicingthem, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable anyperson skilled in the art to which they pertain to practice theseembodiments. The present embodiments are, however, susceptible tomodifications and alternate constructions from those discussed abovethat are fully equivalent. Consequently, the present invention is notlimited to the particular embodiments disclosed. On the contrary, thepresent invention covers all modifications and alternate constructionscoming within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Forexample, the steps in the processes described herein need not beperformed in the same order as they have been presented, and may beperformed in any order(s). Further, steps that have been presented asbeing performed separately may in alternative embodiments be performedconcurrently. Likewise, steps that have been presented as beingperformed concurrently may in alternative embodiments be performedseparately.

Example Clauses

1: In a first aspect, an audio/video (A/V) recording and communicationdevice configured to be connected in series with a doorbell circuitdevice in a doorbell circuit, the A/V recording and communication devicecomprising: a button to receive input to cause a signaling device tooutput a sound; one or more processors; a signal relay configured toperform current switching for controlling alternating current (AC)current that is drawn by the A/V recording and communication device, thesignal relay being selectively configurable to close a connection suchthat the AC current is drawn by the A/V recording and communicationdevice, and to open the connection such that the AC current is not drawnby the A/V recording and communication device; and memory having storedtherein instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors,cause the A/V recording and communication device to: cause the signalrelay to close the connection such that AC current is drawn by the A/Vrecording and communication device; detect an input to the button; basedat least in part on the input to the button, cause the signal relay toopen the connection for a first period of time such that the AC currentis not drawn by the A/V recording and communication device, resulting inmodulation of a first portion of the AC current during the first periodof time; subsequent to the first period of time, cause the signal relayto close the connection such that the AC current continues to be drawnby the A/V recording and communication device, wherein the modulation ofthe AC current during the first period of time causes the signalingdevice to output the sound; detect a removal of the input to the button;based at least in part on the removal of the input to the button: causethe signal relay to open the connection for a second period of time suchthat the AC current is not drawn by the A/V recording and communicationdevice, resulting in modulation of a second portion of the AC currentduring the second period of time; and cause the signal relay to open theconnection for a third period of time such that the AC current is notdrawn by the A/V recording and communication device, resulting inmodulation of a third portion of the AC current during the third periodof time, wherein the modulation of the second portion of the AC currentfollowed by the modulation of the third portion of the AC currentindicates to the signaling device to stop outputting the sound; andsubsequent to the third period of time, cause the signal relay to closethe connection such that the AC current is drawn by the A/V recordingand communication device.

2: In an embodiment of the first aspect, the A/V recording andcommunication device of paragraph 1, wherein: the signal relay isconnected in series between the signaling device and a power load of theA/V recording and communication device; and the power load draws atleast a portion of the AC current and comprises at least one of: acamera; a microphone; or a speaker.

3: In an embodiment of the first aspect, the A/V recording andcommunication device of paragraph 1, wherein the memory stores furtherinstructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, causethe A/V recording and communication device to: cause the signal relay toswitch between opening the connection and closing the connectionmultiple times according to a sequence, resulting in a correspondingsequence of modulations of multiple portions of the AC current, whereinthe corresponding sequence of modulations of the multiple portions ofthe AC current indicates, to the signaling device, a request that thesignaling device provide a device identifier to the A/V recording andcommunication device.

4: In an embodiment of the first aspect, the A/V recording andcommunication device of paragraph 3, further comprising: a current senseresistor to detect changes in the AC current caused by the signalingdevice; wherein the sequence comprises a first sequence; and the memorystores further instructions that, when executed by the one or moreprocessors, cause the A/V recording and communication device to: detect,at least partly using the current sense resistor, multiple modulationsof the AC current according to a second predefined sequence; and storedata indicating binary bits that correspond to the second predefinedsequence of the multiple modulations of the AC current, wherein thebinary bits that correspond to the second predefined sequence representthe device identifier of the signaling device.

5: In an embodiment of the first aspect, the A/V recording andcommunication device of paragraph 3, wherein causing the signal relay toswitch between opening the connection and closing the connectionmultiple times according to the sequence comprises: causing the signalrelay to open the connection for a fourth period of time such that theAC current is not drawn by the A/V recording and communication device,resulting in a modulation of a fourth portion of the AC current, whereinthe fourth portion of the AC current is included in a positive signalamplitude of a signal period of the AC current; and subsequent to thefourth period of time, causing the signal relay to close the connectionfor a fifth period of time such that a fifth portion of the AC currentis drawn by the A/V recording and communication device, wherein thefifth portion of the AC current is included in the positive signalamplitude of the signal period of the AC current.

6: In an embodiment of the first aspect, the A/V recording andcommunication device of paragraph 3, wherein causing the signal relay toswitch between opening the connection and closing the connectionmultiple times according to the sequence comprises: causing the signalrelay to close the connection for a fourth period of time such that afourth portion of the AC current is drawn by the A/V recording andcommunication device, wherein the fourth portion of the AC current isincluded in a positive signal amplitude of a signal period of the ACcurrent; and subsequent to the fourth period of time, causing the signalrelay to open the connection for a fifth period of time such that the ACcurrent is not drawn by the A/V recording and communication device,resulting in a modulation of a fifth portion of the AC current, whereinthe fifth portion of the AC current is included in the positive signalamplitude of the signal period of the AC current.

7: In a second aspect, an audio/video (A/V) recording and communicationdevice having two terminals connectable in series with a doorbellcircuit device in a doorbell circuit, the A/V recording andcommunication device comprising: one or more processors; a switch forcontrolling alternating current (AC) current that is drawn by the A/Vrecording and communication device, the switch being selectivelyoperable to close such that the AC current is drawn by the A/V recordingand communication device, and to open such that the AC current is notdrawn by the A/V recording and communication device; and memory havingstored therein instructions that, when executed by the one or moreprocessors, cause the A/V recording and communication device to: receivean instruction for communication to the doorbell circuit device;determine, based at least in part on the instruction, a control signalto control the switch to close and open; and send the control signal tothe switch, resulting in modulation of a portion of the AC current, themodulation of the portion of the AC current representative of theinstruction to the doorbell circuit device.

8: In an embodiment of the second aspect, the A/V recording andcommunication device of paragraph 7, further comprising a button that,when pressed, causes the doorbell circuit device to output a sound,wherein: receiving the instruction includes detecting a press of thebutton; and the modulation of the portion of the AC current causes thedoorbell circuit device to output the sound.

9: In an embodiment of the second aspect, the A/V recording andcommunication device of paragraph 7, further comprising a button that,when pressed, causes the doorbell circuit device to output a sound,wherein: receiving the instruction includes detecting a press of thebutton; sending the control signal to the switch causes the switch toopen for a first period of time such that the AC current is not drawn bythe A/V recording and communication device, resulting in the modulationof a first portion of the AC current, the modulation of the firstportion of the AC current causing the doorbell circuit device to outputthe sound; and the memory stores further instructions that, whenexecuted by the one or more processors, cause the A/V recording andcommunication device to: subsequent to the first period of time, causethe switch to close such that the AC current continues to be drawn bythe A/V recording and communication device; detect a removal of thepress to the button; cause the switch to open for a second period oftime such that the AC current is not drawn by the A/V recording andcommunication device, resulting in modulation of a second portion of theAC current during the second period of time; and cause the switch toopen for a third period of time such that the AC current is not drawn bythe A/V recording and communication device, resulting in modulation of athird portion of the AC current during the third period of time, whereinthe modulation of the second portion of the AC current followed by themodulation of the third portion of the AC current indicates to thedoorbell circuit device to stop outputting the sound.

10: In an embodiment of the second aspect, the A/V recording andcommunication device of paragraph 7, wherein: the switch is connected inseries between the doorbell circuit device and a power load of the A/Vrecording and communication device; and the power load draws at least aportion of the AC current and comprises at least one of a camera, amicrophone, or a speaker.

11: In an embodiment of the second aspect, the A/V recording andcommunication device of paragraph 7, wherein causing the switch to closeand open comprises: causing the switch to close and open multiple timesaccording to a sequence, resulting in a corresponding sequence ofmodulations of multiple portions of the AC current, wherein thecorresponding sequence of modulations of the multiple portions of the ACcurrent indicates, to the doorbell circuit device, the instruction thatthe doorbell circuit device provide a device identifier to the A/Vrecording and communication device.

12: In an embodiment of the second aspect, the A/V recording andcommunication device of paragraph 11, further comprising: a currentsense resistor to detect changes in the AC current caused by thedoorbell circuit device; wherein the sequence comprises a firstsequence; and the memory stores further instructions that, when executedby the one or more processors, cause the A/V recording and communicationdevice to: detect, at least partly using the current sense resistor,multiple modulations of the AC current according to a second predefinedsequence; and store data indicating binary bits that correspond to thesecond predefined sequence of the multiple modulations of the ACcurrent, wherein the binary bits that correspond to the secondpredefined sequence represent the device identifier of the doorbellcircuit device.

13: In an embodiment of the second aspect, the A/V recording andcommunication device of paragraph 7, wherein causing the switch to closeand open comprises: causing the switch to open for a first period oftime such that the AC current is not drawn by the A/V recording andcommunication device, resulting in the modulation of the portion of theAC current, wherein the portion of the AC current is included in apositive signal amplitude of a signal period of the AC current; andsubsequent to the first period of time, causing the switch to close fora second period of time such that a subsequent portion of the AC currentis drawn by the A/V recording and communication device, wherein thesubsequent portion of the AC current is included in the positive signalamplitude of the signal period of the AC current.

14: In an embodiment of the second aspect, the A/V recording andcommunication device of paragraph 7, wherein: the switch is connected inseries between the doorbell circuit device and a power load of the A/Vrecording and communication device; and the power load draws at least aportion of the AC current and comprises at least one of: a camera; amicrophone; or a speaker.

15: In an embodiment of the second aspect, the A/V recording andcommunication device of paragraph 7, wherein causing the switch closeand open comprises: causing the switch to close for a first period oftime such that an initial portion of the AC current is drawn by the A/Vrecording and communication device, wherein the initial portion of theAC current is included in a positive signal amplitude of a signal periodof the AC current; and subsequent to the first period of time, causingthe switch to open for a second period of time such that the AC currentis not drawn by the A/V recording and communication device, resulting inthe modulation of the portion of the AC current, wherein the portion ofthe AC current is included in the positive signal amplitude of thesignal period of the AC current.

16: In a third aspect, a doorbell circuit device having two terminalsconnectable to a signaling device in a circuit and connectable in serieswith an audio/video (A/V) recording and communication device, thedoorbell circuit device comprising: control circuitry for controllingalternating current (AC) current that is drawn by the signaling device,the control circuitry comprising an open state in which AC current isdelivered to the signaling device and a closed state in which the ACcurrent is not drawn by the signaling device; and one or more controlcomponents comprising logic to cause the doorbell circuit device to:cause the control circuitry to enter the closed state such that ACcurrent is not drawn by the signaling device; identify a modulation of aportion of the AC current; and based at least in part on the modulationof the portion of the AC current, cause the control circuitry to enterthe open state such that the AC current is drawn by the signaling deviceto cause the signaling device to output sound.

17: In an embodiment of the third aspect, the doorbell circuit device ofparagraph 16, further comprising a current sense resistor connectedbetween two terminals of the A/V recording and communication device fordetecting changes in the AC current delivered from an AC power sourceand through the doorbell circuit device, wherein identifying themodulation of the portion of the AC current comprises detecting, atleast partly by the current sense resistor, the portion of the ACcurrent drawn through the control circuitry.

18: In an embodiment of the third aspect, the doorbell circuit device ofparagraph 17, wherein the portion of the AC current comprises a firstportion, and wherein the one or more control components comprise furtherlogic that cause the doorbell circuit device to: detect, at least partlyby the current sense resistor, a modulation of a second portion of theAC current followed by a modulation of a third portion of the ACcurrent; and based at least in part on the modulation of the secondportion of the AC current followed by the modulation of the thirdportion of the AC current, cause the control circuitry to enter theclosed state such that the AC current bypasses away from the signalingdevice to cause the signaling device to cease outputting the sound.

19: In an embodiment of the third aspect, the doorbell circuit device ofparagraph 16, wherein: the control circuitry includes a shunt switch andis connected in parallel with the signaling device; and causing thecontrol circuitry to enter the open state such that the AC current isdrawn by the signaling device includes placing the shunt switch in ahigh impedance state such that a shunt impedance associated with theshunt switch is greater than a load impedance associated with thesignaling device.

20: In an embodiment of the third aspect, the doorbell circuit device ofparagraph 16, wherein the one or more control components comprisefurther logic that cause the doorbell circuit device to: detect an endof a predefined period of time associated with causing the signalingdevice to output the sound; and based at least in part on the detectingthe end of the predefined period of time, cause the control circuitry toenter the closed state such that the AC current bypasses away from thesignaling device to cause the signaling device to cease outputting thesound.

20: In a fourth aspect, a doorbell circuit device configured to becoupled to a signaling device in a circuit, the doorbell circuit deviceconfigured to be in series with an audio/video (A/V) recording andcommunication device, the doorbell circuit device comprising: one ormore processors; control circuitry for controlling alternating current(AC) current that is drawn by the signaling device, the controlcircuitry comprising an open state in which AC current is delivered tothe signaling device and a closed state in which the AC current is notdrawn by the signaling device; and memory having stored thereininstructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, causethe doorbell circuit device to: cause the control circuitry to enter theclosed state such that AC current is not drawn by the signaling device;identify a modulation of a portion of the AC current; based at least inpart on the modulation of the portion of the AC current, cause thecontrol circuitry to enter the open state such that the AC current isdrawn by the signaling device to cause the signaling device to outputsound.

21: In an embodiment of the fourth aspect, the doorbell circuit deviceof paragraph 20, further comprising a current sense resistor configuredto detect changes in the AC current delivered from an AC power sourceand through the doorbell circuit device, wherein identifying themodulation of the portion of the AC current comprises detecting, atleast partly by the current sense resistor, the portion of the ACcurrent drawn through the control circuitry.

22: In an embodiment of the fourth aspect, the doorbell circuit deviceof paragraph 21, wherein the portion of the AC current comprises a firstportion, comprising further instructions that, when executed by the oneor more processors, cause the doorbell circuit device to: detect, atleast partly by the current sense resistor, a modulation of a secondportion of the AC current followed by a modulation of a third portion ofthe AC current; and based at least in part on the modulation of thesecond portion of the AC current followed by the modulation of the thirdportion of the AC current, cause the control circuitry to enter theclosed state such that the AC current bypasses away from the signalingdevice to cause the signaling device to cease outputting the sound.

23: In an embodiment of the fourth aspect, the doorbell circuit deviceof paragraph 20, wherein: the control circuitry includes a shunt switchand is in parallel with the signaling device; and causing the controlcircuitry to enter the open state such that the AC current is drawn bythe signaling device includes placing the shunt switch in a highimpedance state such that a shunt impedance associated with the shuntswitch is greater than a load impedance associated with the signalingdevice.

24: In a fifth aspect, a method performed at least partly by a doorbellcircuit device, the method comprising: causing control circuitry forcontrolling alternating current (AC) current that is drawn by asignaling device to enter a closed state such that the AC current is notdrawn by the signaling device; identifying a modulation of a portion ofthe AC current; and based at least in part on the modulation of theportion of the AC current, cause the control circuitry to enter an openstate such that the AC current is drawn by the signaling device to causethe signaling device to output sound.

25: In a sixth aspect, a doorbell circuit device configured to becoupled to a signaling device in a circuit, the doorbell circuit deviceconfigured to be in series with an audio/video (A/V) recording andcommunication device, the doorbell circuit device comprising: one ormore processors; a signal relay configured to perform current switchingfor controlling alternating current (AC) current that is drawn throughthe doorbell circuit device by the A/V recording and communicationdevice, the signal relay being selectively configurable to close aconnection such that the AC current is drawn and to open the connectionsuch that the AC current is not drawn; and memory having stored thereininstructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, causethe doorbell circuit device to: identify one or more first modulationsof the AC current representative of an instruction for communication tothe A/V recording and communication device; determine, based at least inpart on the one or more first modulations of the AC current, a controlsignal to control the signal relay to perform the current switching; andcause the signal relay to perform the current switching for controllingthe AC current according to the control signal resulting in one or moresecond modulations of the AC current to be representative of theinstruction for communication to the A/V recording and communicationdevice.

26: In an embodiment of the sixth aspect, the doorbell circuit device ofparagraph 25, wherein the one or more first modulations of the ACcurrent comprises a first sequence of modulations of multiple firstportions of the AC current; comprising further instructions that, whenexecuted by the one or more processors, cause the doorbell circuitdevice to: determine, based at least in part on the first sequence ofmodulations of the multiple first portions of the AC current, that theinstruction for communication comprises a request for a deviceidentifier of the doorbell circuit device.

27: In an embodiment of the sixth aspect, the doorbell circuit device ofparagraph 26, wherein causing the signal relay to perform the currentswitching resulting in the one or more second modulations comprises:determine a second sequence of modulations of AC current that representthe device identifier of the doorbell circuit device; and causing thesignal relay to switch between opening the connection and closing theconnection multiple times according to the second sequence ofmodulations of second portions of the AC current to communicate anindication of the device identifier to the A/V recording andcommunication device.

28: In a seventh aspect, an audio/video (A/V) recording andcommunication device configured to be connected in series with adoorbell device in a doorbell circuit, the A/V recording andcommunication device comprising: a button configured to receive touchinput to cause a signaling device to output a sound; one or moreprocessors; a first signal relay configured to be disposed in serieswith the signaling device to perform current switching for controllingAC current that is provided by an AC power source, the first signalrelay being selectively configurable to close a first connection suchthat the AC current is provided by the AC power source and to open thefirst connection such that the AC current is not provided by the ACpower source; a second signal relay disposed in parallel with the A/Vrecording and communication device to perform current switching forcontrolling the AC current that is drawn by the A/V recording andcommunication device, the second signal relay being selectivelyconfigurable to open a second connection such that the AC current isdrawn by the A/V recording and communication device through the firstsignal relay and to close the second connection such that that ACcurrent passes through the first signal relay and the second signalrelay to bypass the A/V recording and communication device; and memoryhaving stored therein instructions that, when executed by the one ormore processors, cause the A/V recording and communication device to:cause the first signal relay to close the first connection; cause thesecond signal relay to open the second connection such that the A/Vrecording and communication device draws a first amount of AC currentthrough the first signal relay; detect a touch input of the button;based at least in part on the detecting the touch input of the button,cause the first signal relay to open the first connection such that thedoorbell circuit is open, thereby preventing the first amount of ACcurrent from being drawn by the A/V recording and communication devicefor a first period of time, wherein the preventing the first amount ofAC current from being drawn by the A/V recording and communicationdevice indicates to the signaling device to output the sound; subsequentto the first period of time: cause the first signal relay to close thefirst connection such that the AC current is provided to the doorbellcircuit by the AC power source; and cause the second signal relay toclose the second connection such that a second amount of AC current thatis drawn by the signaling device to output the sound bypasses the A/Vrecording and communication device by passing through the first signalrelay and the second signal relay, wherein the first signal relay andthe second signal relay are closed for a second period of time;subsequent to the second period of time: cause the first signal relay toopen the first connection for a third period of time; and cause thesecond signal relay to open the second connection for the third periodof time such that the doorbell circuit is open, thereby preventing thesignaling device from drawing the second amount of AC current to outputthe sound; and subsequent to the third period of time, cause the firstsignal relay to close the first connection such that the A/V recordingand communication device draws a third amount of AC current through thefirst signal relay.

29: In an embodiment of the seventh aspect, the A/V recording andcommunication device of paragraph 28, wherein: the first signal relay isconfigured to be connected in series between the signaling device and apower load of the A/V recording and communication device; and the powerload is configured to draw at least a portion of the AC current andcomprises at least one of a camera, a microphone, or a speaker.

30: In an embodiment of the seventh aspect, the A/V recording andcommunication device of paragraph 28, further comprising a doorbellcircuit device connected in series with the A/V recording andcommunication device and configured for coupling to the signalingdevice, the doorbell circuit device comprising: one or more secondprocessors; and an electronic switch configured to perform currentswitching for controlling AC current that is drawn by the signalingdevice, the electronic switch being selectively configurable to open athird connection such that the AC current is drawn by the signalingdevice and to close the third connection such that the AC currentbypasses the signaling device and is drawn by the A/V recording andcommunication device.

31: In an embodiment of the seventh aspect, the A/V recording andcommunication device of paragraph 30, wherein the doorbell circuitdevice further comprises second memory storing second instructions that,when executed by the one or more second processors, cause the doorbellcircuit device to: detect that the first amount of AC current wasprevented from being drawn by the A/V recording and communicationdevice; and based at least in part on the first amount of AC currentbeing prevented from being drawn, causing the electronic switch to openthe third connection such that the AC current is drawn by the signalingdevice to output the sound at least partly during the second period oftime.

32: In an embodiment of the seventh aspect, the A/V recording andcommunication device of paragraph 31, wherein: the doorbell circuitdevice further comprises a current sense resistor configured to detectchanges in alternating current (AC) current drawn from an AC powersource and through the doorbell circuit by the A/V recording andcommunication device; and detecting that the first amount of AC currentwas prevented from being drawn comprises detecting, at least partlyusing the current sense resistor, that the first amount of AC currentwas prevented from being drawn.

33: In an eighth aspect, an audio/video (A/V) recording andcommunication device having two terminals connectable in series with asignaling device within a doorbell circuit, the A/V recording andcommunication device comprising: a button that, when pressed, causes thesignaling device to output sound; one or more processors; a first switchfor controlling alternating current (AC) current that is drawn by theA/V recording and communication device, the first switch beingselectively configurable to close such that the AC current is drawn bythe A/V recording and communication device and to open such that the ACcurrent is not drawn by the A/V recording and communication device; asecond switch for controlling the AC current that is drawn by the A/Vrecording and communication device, the second switch being selectivelyconfigurable to open such that the AC current is drawn by the A/Vrecording and communication device through the first switch and to closesuch that that AC current passes through the first switch and the secondswitch to bypass the A/V recording and communication device; and memoryhaving stored therein instructions that, when executed by the one ormore processors, cause the A/V recording and communication device to:cause the first switch to close; cause the second switch to open suchthat the A/V recording and communication device draws a first amount ofAC current through the first switch; detect a press of the button; basedat least in part on the press of the button, cause the first switch toopen such that the A/V recording and communication device is preventedfrom drawing the first amount of AC current for a first period of time;subsequent to the first period of time: cause the first switch to close;and cause the second switch to close such that a second amount of ACcurrent that is drawn by the signaling device to output a sound bypassesthe A/V recording and communication device, wherein the first switch andthe second switch are closed for a second period of time.

34: In an embodiment of the eighth aspect, the A/V recording andcommunication device of paragraph 33, the memory storing furtherinstructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, causethe A/V recording and communication device to, subsequent to the secondperiod of time: cause the first switch to open for a third period oftime; and cause the second switch to open for the third period of timesuch that the doorbell circuit is open, thereby preventing the signalingdevice from drawing the second amount of AC current to output the sound.

35: In an embodiment of the eighth aspect, the A/V recording andcommunication device of paragraph 34, the memory storing furtherinstructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, causethe A/V recording and communication device to, subsequent to the thirdperiod of time: cause the first switch to close such that the A/Vrecording and communication device draws a third amount of AC currentthrough the first switch.

36: In an embodiment of the eighth aspect, the A/V recording andcommunication device of paragraph 33, wherein: the first switch isconfigured to be connected in series between the signaling device and apower load of the A/V recording and communication device; and the powerload is configured to draw at least a portion of the first amount of ACcurrent and comprises at least one of a camera, a microphone, or aspeaker.

37: In a ninth aspect, a method performed at least in part by anaudio/video (A/V) recording and communication device, the methodcomprising: causing a first switch of the A/V recording andcommunication device to close a first connection such that alternatingcurrent (AC) current is drawn through a doorbell circuit from an ACpower source, wherein the A/V recording and communication device isconnected in series with a signaling device in the doorbell circuit;causing a second switch of the A/V recording and communication device toopen a second connection such that the A/V recording and communicationdevice draws a first amount of AC current through the first switch;detecting a press of a button of the A/V recording and communicationdevice; based at least in part on the press of the button, causing thefirst switch to open such that the A/V recording and communicationdevice is prevented from drawing the first amount of AC current for afirst period of time; subsequent to the first period of time: causingthe first switch to close; and causing the second switch to close suchthat a second amount of AC current that is drawn by the signaling deviceto output a sound bypasses the A/V recording and communication device,wherein the first switch and the second switch are closed for a secondperiod of time.

38: In an embodiment of the ninth aspect, the method of paragraph 37,further comprising: causing the first switch to open the firstconnection for a third period of time; and causing the second switch toopen the second connection for the third period of time such that thedoorbell circuit is open, thereby preventing the signaling device fromdrawing the second amount of AC current to output the sound.

39: In an embodiment of the ninth aspect, the method of paragraph 37,wherein: the first switch is configured to be connected in seriesbetween the signaling device and a power load of the A/V recording andcommunication device; and the power load is configured to draw at leasta portion of the AC current and comprises at least one of a camera, amicrophone, or a speaker.

40: In an embodiment of the ninth aspect, the method of paragraph 37,further comprising causing the first switch to close the firstconnection such that the A/V recording and communication device draws athird amount of AC current through the first switch.

41: In a tenth aspect, a doorbell circuit device having two terminalsconnectable to a signaling device in a doorbell circuit and connectablein series in the doorbell circuit with an audio/video (A/V) recordingand communication device, the doorbell circuit device comprising: anelectronic switch configured to perform current switching forcontrolling alternating current (AC) current that is drawn by thesignaling device, the electronic switch being selectively configurableto open such that the AC current is drawn by the signaling device and toclose such that the AC current bypasses the signaling device; and one ormore control components comprising logic to cause the doorbell circuitdevice to: cause the electrical switch to close such that a first amountof AC current bypasses the signaling device; identify that the doorbellcircuit changes from a closed-circuit state to an open-circuit state;and based at least in part on the identifying that the doorbell circuitchanges from the closed-circuit state to the open-circuit state: causethe electronic switch to open such that a second amount of AC current isdrawn by the signaling device; and cause the signaling device to outputa sound.

42: In an embodiment of the tenth aspect, the doorbell circuit device ofparagraph 41, wherein the one or more control components comprisefurther logic that cause the doorbell device to: identify that thedoorbell circuit changes from the closed-circuit state back to theopen-circuit state; and based at least in part on the identifying thatthe doorbell circuit changes from the closed-circuit state back to theopen circuit state, cause the electronic switch to close such that athird amount of AC current bypasses the signaling device.

43: In an embodiment of the tenth aspect, the doorbell circuit device ofparagraph 41, further comprising a current sense resistor configured todetect changes in the AC current drawn from an AC power source andthrough the doorbell circuit by the A/V recording and communicationdevice, wherein the identifying that the doorbell circuit changes fromthe closed-circuit state to the open-circuit state comprises detecting,at least partly by the current sense resistor, that the doorbell circuitchanges from the closed-circuit state to the open-circuit state.

44: In an embodiment of the tenth aspect, the doorbell circuit device ofparagraph 41, wherein the doorbell circuit device is configured to beconnected in parallel with the signaling device in the doorbell circuit.

45: In an eleventh aspect, a method performed at least partly by adoorbell circuit device that is coupled to a signaling device in adoorbell circuit, the method comprising: causing an electronic switch toclose a connection in the doorbell circuit such that a first amount ofalternating current (AC) current bypasses the signaling device in thedoorbell circuit; identifying that the doorbell circuit changes from aclosed-circuit state to an open-circuit state; and based at least inpart on the identifying that the doorbell circuit changes from theclosed-circuit state to the open-circuit state: causing the electronicswitch to open such that a second amount of AC current is drawn by thesignaling device; and causing the signaling device to output a sound.

46: In an embodiment of the eleventh aspect, the method of paragraph 45,further comprising: identifying that the doorbell circuit changes fromthe closed-circuit state back to the open-circuit state; and based atleast in part on the identifying that the doorbell circuit changes fromthe closed-circuit state back to the open circuit state, causing theelectronic switch to close such that a third amount of AC currentbypasses the signaling device.

47: In an embodiment of the eleventh aspect, the method of paragraph 45,further comprising: detecting an end of a predefined period of timeassociated with causing the signaling device to output the sound; andbased at least in part on the detecting the end of the predefined periodof time, cause the electronic switch to close such that a third amountof AC current bypasses the signaling device to cease outputting thesound.

48: In a twelfth aspect, a doorbell circuit device configured forcoupling to a signaling device in a doorbell circuit, the doorbellcircuit device configured to be in series with an audio/video (A/V)recording and communication device, the doorbell circuit devicecomprising: one or more processors; a current sense resistor configuredto detect changes in alternating current (AC) current drawn from an ACpower source and through the doorbell circuit by the A/V recording andcommunication device; an electronic switch configured to perform currentswitching for controlling AC current that is drawn by the signalingdevice, the electronic switch being selectively configurable to open aconnection such that the AC current is drawn by the signaling device andto close the connection such that the AC current bypasses the signalingdevice and is drawn by the A/V recording and communication device; andmemory having stored therein instructions that, when executed by the oneor more processors, cause the doorbell circuit device to: cause theelectronic switch to close the connection such that a first amount of ACcurrent bypasses the signaling device and is drawn by the A/V recordingand communication device; detect, at least partly by the current senseresistor, that the doorbell circuit is in an open-circuit state at afirst time; detect, at least partly by the current sense resistor, thatthe doorbell circuit is in a closed-circuit state at a second time thatis after the first time; based at least in part on the doorbell circuitbeing in the open-circuit state at the first time and the doorbellcircuit being in the closed-circuit state at the second time, cause theelectronic switch to open the connection such that a second amount of ACcurrent is drawn by the signaling device in order to cause the signalingdevice to output sound; detect, at least partly by the current senseresistor, that the doorbell circuit is in the open-circuit state at athird time; and based at least in part on the doorbell circuit is in theopen-circuit state at the third time, cause the electronic switch toclose the connection such that a third amount of AC current bypasses thesignaling device and is drawn by the A/V recording and communicationdevice.

49: In an embodiment of the twelfth aspect, the doorbell circuit deviceof paragraph 48, wherein the doorbell circuit device is configured to bein parallel with the signaling device in the doorbell circuit.

50: In an embodiment of the twelfth aspect, the doorbell circuit deviceof paragraph 48, wherein causing the electronic switch to close theconnection such that a first amount of AC current bypasses the signalingdevice and is drawn by the A/V recording and communication devicecomprise causing the electronic switch to switch from a low impedance toa high impedance.

What is claimed is:
 1. An audio/video (A/V) recording and communicationdevice configured to be connected in series with a doorbell device in adoorbell circuit, the A/V recording and communication device comprising:a button configured to receive touch input to cause a signaling deviceto output a sound; one or more processors; a first signal relayconfigured to be disposed in series with the signaling device to performcurrent switching for controlling AC current that is provided by an ACpower source, the first signal relay being selectively configurable toclose a first connection such that the AC current is provided by the ACpower source and to open the first connection such that the AC currentis not provided by the AC power source; a second signal relay disposedin parallel with the A/V recording and communication device to performcurrent switching for controlling the AC current that is drawn by theA/V recording and communication device, the second signal relay beingselectively configurable to open a second connection such that the ACcurrent is drawn by the A/V recording and communication device throughthe first signal relay and to close the second connection such that thatAC current passes through the first signal relay and the second signalrelay to bypass the A/V recording and communication device; and memoryhaving stored therein instructions that, when executed by the one ormore processors, cause the A/V recording and communication device to:cause the first signal relay to close the first connection; cause thesecond signal relay to open the second connection such that the A/Vrecording and communication device draws a first amount of AC currentthrough the first signal relay; detect a touch input of the button;based at least in part on the detecting the touch input of the button,cause the first signal relay to open the first connection such that thedoorbell circuit is open, thereby preventing the first amount of ACcurrent from being drawn by the A/V recording and communication devicefor a first period of time, wherein the preventing the first amount ofAC current from being drawn by the A/V recording and communicationdevice indicates to the signaling device to output the sound; subsequentto the first period of time: cause the first signal relay to close thefirst connection such that the AC current is provided to the doorbellcircuit by the AC power source; and cause the second signal relay toclose the second connection such that a second amount of AC current thatis drawn by the signaling device to output the sound bypasses the A/Vrecording and communication device by passing through the first signalrelay and the second signal relay, wherein the first signal relay andthe second signal relay are closed for a second period of time;subsequent to the second period of time: cause the first signal relay toopen the first connection for a third period of time; and cause thesecond signal relay to open the second connection for the third periodof time such that the doorbell circuit is open, thereby preventing thesignaling device from drawing the second amount of AC current to outputthe sound; and subsequent to the third period of time, cause the firstsignal relay to close the first connection such that the A/V recordingand communication device draws a third amount of AC current through thefirst signal relay.
 2. The A/V recording and communication device ofclaim 1, wherein: the first signal relay is configured to be connectedin series between the signaling device and a power load of the A/Vrecording and communication device; and the power load is configured todraw at least a portion of the AC current and comprises at least one ofa camera, a microphone, or a speaker.
 3. The A/V recording andcommunication device of claim 1, further comprising a doorbell circuitdevice connected in series with the A/V recording and communicationdevice and configured for coupling to the signaling device, the doorbellcircuit device comprising: one or more second processors; and anelectronic switch configured to perform current switching forcontrolling AC current that is drawn by the signaling device, theelectronic switch being selectively configurable to open a thirdconnection such that the AC current is drawn by the signaling device andto close the third connection such that the AC current bypasses thesignaling device and is drawn by the A/V recording and communicationdevice.
 4. The A/V recording and communication device of claim 3,wherein the doorbell circuit device further comprises second memorystoring second instructions that, when executed by the one or moresecond processors, cause the doorbell circuit device to: detect that thefirst amount of AC current was prevented from being drawn by the A/Vrecording and communication device; and based at least in part on thefirst amount of AC current being prevented from being drawn, causing theelectronic switch to open the third connection such that the AC currentis drawn by the signaling device to output the sound at least partlyduring the second period of time.
 5. The A/V recording and communicationdevice of claim 4, wherein: the doorbell circuit device furthercomprises a current sense resistor configured to detect changes inalternating current (AC) current drawn from an AC power source andthrough the doorbell circuit by the A/V recording and communicationdevice; and detecting that the first amount of AC current was preventedfrom being drawn comprises detecting, at least partly using the currentsense resistor, that the first amount of AC current was prevented frombeing drawn.
 6. An audio/video (A/V) recording and communication devicehaving two terminals connectable in series with a signaling devicewithin a doorbell circuit, the A/V recording and communication devicecomprising: a button that, when pressed, causes the signaling device tooutput sound; one or more processors; a first switch for controllingalternating current (AC) current that is drawn by the A/V recording andcommunication device, the first switch being selectively configurable toclose such that the AC current is drawn by the A/V recording andcommunication device and to open such that the AC current is not drawnby the A/V recording and communication device; a second switch forcontrolling the AC current that is drawn by the A/V recording andcommunication device, the second switch being selectively configurableto open such that the AC current is drawn by the A/V recording andcommunication device through the first switch and to close such thatthat AC current passes through the first switch and the second switch tobypass the A/V recording and communication device; and memory havingstored therein instructions that, when executed by the one or moreprocessors, cause the A/V recording and communication device to: causethe first switch to close; cause the second switch to open such that theA/V recording and communication device draws a first amount of ACcurrent through the first switch; detect a press of the button; based atleast in part on the press of the button, cause the first switch to opensuch that the A/V recording and communication device is prevented fromdrawing the first amount of AC current for a first period of time;subsequent to the first period of time: cause the first switch to close;and cause the second switch to close such that a second amount of ACcurrent that is drawn by the signaling device to output a sound bypassesthe A/V recording and communication device, wherein the first switch andthe second switch are closed for a second period of time.
 7. The A/Vrecording and communication device of claim 6, the memory storingfurther instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors,cause the A/V recording and communication device to, subsequent to thesecond period of time: cause the first switch to open for a third periodof time; and cause the second switch to open for the third period oftime such that the doorbell circuit is open, thereby preventing thesignaling device from drawing the second amount of AC current to outputthe sound.
 8. The A/V recording and communication device of claim 7, thememory storing further instructions that, when executed by the one ormore processors, cause the A/V recording and communication device to,subsequent to the third period of time: cause the first switch to closesuch that the A/V recording and communication device draws a thirdamount of AC current through the first switch.
 9. The A/V recording andcommunication device of claim 6, wherein: the first switch is configuredto be connected in series between the signaling device and a power loadof the A/V recording and communication device; and the power load isconfigured to draw at least a portion of the first amount of AC currentand comprises at least one of a camera, a microphone, or a speaker. 10.A method performed at least in part by an audio/video (A/V) recordingand communication device, the method comprising: causing a first switchof the A/V recording and communication device to close a firstconnection such that alternating current (AC) current is drawn through adoorbell circuit from an AC power source, wherein the A/V recording andcommunication device is connected in series with a signaling device inthe doorbell circuit; causing a second switch of the A/V recording andcommunication device to open a second connection such that the A/Vrecording and communication device draws a first amount of AC currentthrough the first switch; detecting a press of a button of the A/Vrecording and communication device; based at least in part on the pressof the button, causing the first switch to open such that the A/Vrecording and communication device is prevented from drawing the firstamount of AC current for a first period of time; subsequent to the firstperiod of time: causing the first switch to close; and causing thesecond switch to close such that a second amount of AC current that isdrawn by the signaling device to output a sound bypasses the A/Vrecording and communication device, wherein the first switch and thesecond switch are closed for a second period of time.
 11. The method ofclaim 10, further comprising: causing the first switch to open the firstconnection for a third period of time; and causing the second switch toopen the second connection for the third period of time such that thedoorbell circuit is open, thereby preventing the signaling device fromdrawing the second amount of AC current to output the sound.
 12. Themethod of claim 10, wherein: the first switch is configured to beconnected in series between the signaling device and a power load of theA/V recording and communication device; and the power load is configuredto draw at least a portion of the AC current and comprises at least oneof a camera, a microphone, or a speaker.
 13. The method of claim 10,further comprising causing the first switch to close the firstconnection such that the A/V recording and communication device draws athird amount of AC current through the first switch.
 14. A doorbellcircuit device having two terminals connectable to a signaling device ina doorbell circuit and connectable in series in the doorbell circuitwith an audio/video (A/V) recording and communication device, thedoorbell circuit device comprising: an electronic switch configured toperform current switching for controlling alternating current (AC)current that is drawn by the signaling device, the electronic switchbeing selectively configurable to open such that the AC current is drawnby the signaling device and to close such that the AC current bypassesthe signaling device; and one or more control components comprisinglogic to cause the doorbell circuit device to: cause the electricalswitch to close such that a first amount of AC current bypasses thesignaling device; identify that an amount of the AC current in thedoorbell circuit has fallen below a threshold amount of AC currentindicating that the doorbell circuit has changed from a closed-circuitstate to an open-circuit state; based at least in part on theidentifying that the doorbell circuit changed from the closed-circuitstate to the open-circuit state: cause the electronic switch to opensuch that a second amount of AC current is drawn by the signalingdevice; and cause the signaling device to output a sound.
 15. Thedoorbell circuit device of claim 14, wherein the one or more controlcomponents comprise further logic that cause the doorbell device to:identify that the doorbell circuit changes from the closed-circuit stateto the open-circuit state; and based at least in part on the identifyingthat the doorbell circuit changes from the closed-circuit state to theopen circuit state, cause the electronic switch to close such that athird amount of AC current bypasses the signaling device.
 16. Thedoorbell circuit device of claim 14, further comprising a current senseresistor configured to detect changes in the AC current drawn from an ACpower source and through the doorbell circuit by the A/V recording andcommunication device, wherein the identifying that the doorbell circuitchanges from the closed-circuit state to the open-circuit statecomprises detecting, at least partly by the current sense resistor, thatthe doorbell circuit changes from the closed-circuit state to theopen-circuit state.
 17. The doorbell circuit device of claim 14, whereinthe doorbell circuit device is configured to be connected in parallelwith the signaling device in the doorbell circuit.
 18. A methodperformed at least partly by a doorbell circuit device that is coupledto a signaling device in a doorbell circuit, the method comprising:causing an electronic switch to close a connection in the doorbellcircuit such that a first amount of alternating current (AC) currentbypasses the signaling device in the doorbell circuit; identifying thatthe AC current has fallen below a threshold amount of AC currentindicating that the doorbell circuit has changed from a closed-circuitstate to an open-circuit state; and based at least in part on theidentifying that the doorbell circuit changed from the closed-circuitstate to the open-circuit state: causing the electronic switch to opensuch that a second amount of AC current is drawn by the signalingdevice; and causing the signaling device to output a sound.
 19. Themethod of claim 18, further comprising: identifying that the doorbellcircuit changes from the closed-circuit state to the open-circuit state;and based at least in part on the identifying that the doorbell circuitchanges from the closed-circuit state to the open circuit state, causingthe electronic switch to close such that a third amount of AC currentbypasses the signaling device.
 20. The method of claim 18, furthercomprising: detecting an end of a predefined period of time associatedwith causing the signaling device to output the sound; and based atleast in part on the detecting the end of the predefined period of time,cause the electronic switch to close such that a third amount of ACcurrent bypasses the signaling device to cease outputting the sound.